2027: APC Disqualifies Pro-Fubara State Assembly Aspirants, Clears Wike’s Loyalists

The screening committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for aspirants for the Rivers State House of Assembly has disqualified 63 aspirants and cleared 33 others for the forthcoming party primaries ahead 2027 elections.

LEADERSHIP observed that majority of those who were not cleared were supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while all those cleared were loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.

Our Correspondent further observed that out of the 33 that were cleared for the primaries, 16 are current members of the House of Assembly.

A copy of the screening committee report, which was obtained by LEADERSHIP, showed that prominent among Fubara supporters who were not cleared are the former factional Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo and former chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Comrade Chijioke Ihunwo.

The report, which was addressed to the APC National Chairman through the National Organising Secretary, was signed by the committee Chairman, Rt. Hon. Muraina Ajibola, and three other members of the Committee.

It stated that the reasons for the non-clearance of the 63 aspirants were majorly the fact that they were nominated by persons who are not financially up to date members of the party, contrary to Article 9.3 of the party’s Constitution.

The report listed other reasons for their disqualification to include; inducement and attempted bribery of Committee members, submission of unsworn affidavits and failure to present voter’s cards.

Others were failure to present party membership slips or cards, conflicting dates of birth, failure to confirm payment of membership dues by nominations and irregular membership number of nominators.

Also, other reasons adduced were inconsistencies in names appearing on submitted documents, insufficient nominators with required numbers which fall short of three nominators per ward and invalid court affidavits that failed to disclose material particulars relating to NECO certificates.