The internal political battle within the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has taken a dramatic turn as the party’s House of Assembly Screening Committee reportedly disqualified 65 aspirants ahead of the party primaries.
The screening committee, chaired by Muraina Ajibola, cleared only 33 aspirants said to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to participate in the upcoming primaries.
According to details released by the committee, the affected aspirants were allegedly linked to Siminalayi Fubara and APC chieftain Tonye Cole.
The committee listed several reasons for the mass disqualification, including alleged inducement and attempted bribery of screening officials, failure to provide valid voter cards, submission of unsworn affidavits, and inconsistencies in personal documents.
Other reasons cited include conflicting dates of birth, irregular party membership details submitted by nominators, insufficient ward nominators, and invalid affidavits relating to NECO certificate disclosures.
Political observers believe the development could further deepen the existing divisions within the Rivers APC, especially amid the ongoing rivalry between camps loyal to Governor Fubara and those aligned with Wike.
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The outcome of the screening exercise is expected to shape the balance of power within the party ahead of the legislative primaries and future political contests in Rivers State.
