APC Rivers Screening Committee Disqualifies Fubara Allies, Clears Wike Loyalists

The Rivers State House of Assembly Screening Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has released its official report on aspirants seeking nomination for the 2027 general elections.

The outcome has sparked intense political debate, as the committee cleared all aspirants loyal to FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

Meanwhile, it disqualified those perceived to be aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The report was submitted to the APC National Working Committee and made public through a press release.

It detailed the screening exercise conducted on May 9–10, 2026, at the party’s state secretariat in Port Harcourt.

Key Findings from the Screening Exercise

Commitment to Party: The committee noted that most aspirants demonstrated loyalty to APC ideals, with active participation at ward, local government, and state levels.
Quality of Aspirants: Candidates came from diverse professional and social backgrounds, reflecting APC’s growing acceptance in Rivers State.
Peaceful Conduct: The exercise was largely peaceful, though one aspirant, Victor Oko Jumbo, caused a brief disruption by insisting on entering with a retinue of security aides.
Incident of Bribery: The committee reported that aspirant Tonye Garrick Tom-George attempted to improperly influence proceedings by handing over an envelope containing money. The matter was referred to the police.
Petitions: Several petitions were received alleging that some aspirants were nominated by party members who were not financially up to date, contrary to Article 9.3 of the APC Constitution.

Political Implications

The outcome has been interpreted as a consolidation of Chief Wike’s influence within the APC in Rivers State.

By contrast, Governor Fubara’s loyalists were disqualified, reinforcing the perception of deepening divisions between the two political heavyweights.

Ex-Governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike

Analysts note that the screening exercise reflects the ongoing battle for control of Rivers politics, with the APC positioning itself as a platform for Wike’s allies while sidelining those aligned with the governor.

The APC Rivers State chapter has urged aspirants to check their clearance status at the party secretariat.

It announced that appeals will be heard on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at the Port Harcourt office.

Conclusion

The committee, chaired by Rt. Hon. Muraina Ajibola, Ph.D., FCIarb (UK), concluded that the screening was conducted in substantial compliance with the APC Constitution and guidelines.

It commended aspirants for their discipline and cooperation.

It also stressed that the process was designed to uphold fairness, transparency, and democratic values.

With the primaries approaching, the clearance of Wike loyalists and disqualification of Fubara’s allies is expected to reshape the political landscape in Rivers State, setting the stage for a fierce contest in 2027.

Outcome of Screening

The committee released two lists:

The reasons for non-clearance ranged from failure to present valid party membership slips, unsworn affidavits, conflicting dates of birth, insufficient nominators, and attempted inducement of committee members.