SCREENING CRISIS: 65 ASPIRANTS LOYAL TO GOVERNOR FUBARA DISQUALIFIED IN RIVERS STATE APC PRIMARY SETUP

Screening Crisis: 65 Aspirants Loyal to Governor Fubara Disqualified in Rivers State APC Primary Setup PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA — Internal friction within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has reached a breaking point ahead of the upcoming State House of Assembly primaries. The party’s official screening committee, led by Muraina Ajibola, announced that only 33 out of 98 legislative aspirants successfully scaled the vetting process, effectively disqualifying 65 political hopefuls.Wike vs. Fubara Factional Battle Underground The mass disqualifications have exposed deep political divisions in Rivers State. Analysis of the cleared list reveals that all 29 incumbent lawmakers loyal to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike were cleared. Conversely, the 65 barred aspirants are largely recognized as loyalists of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. High-profile names hit by the disqualification include the former factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and former Obio/Akpor Local Government chairman, Chijioke Ihunwo.Broad Violations Cited by Vetting Panels According to the official report signed by the screening committee, the aspirants failed to satisfy strict primary requirements. The reasons cited for non-clearance include: Financial Delinquency: Nominations backed by party members whose membership dues were overdue. Documentation Issues: Submitting unsworn affidavits, conflicting dates of birth, and missing permanent voter cards (PVCs) or membership slips. Serious Ethical Breaches: Blatant inducement and attempted bribery of screening committee members. The Chairman of the Rivers APC House of Assembly Screening Appeal Committee, Dr. Abdul Mahmud, confirmed that 58 of the aggrieved aspirants flooded the secretariat to submit formal petitions. The final reviewed manifest will dictate who proceeds to the official primaries scheduled for later this month.