The Rivers State House of Assembly Screening Committee of the All-Progressives Congress, APC has disqualified all 32 aspirants reportedly backed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, including former factional Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo and two other lawmakers loyal to the governor.
The committee, however, cleared the 29 serving lawmakers aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, led by Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, to participate in the party’s primaries ahead of the 2027 Assembly election.
The Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, was also said to have obtained the party’s nomination form to contest for the House of Representatives.
A total of 98 aspirants appeared before the four member screening panel constituted by the APC National Working Committee. The exercise was conducted over the weekend at the party secretariat in Port Harcourt.
A copy of the committee’s report, obtained by The Guardian on Monday, was signed by Rt. Hon. Muraina Ajibola (Chairman), Hon. Ishaku Tanko Yamawo (Secretary), Abdullah Hajia, Aisha Abdullahi Adamu and Hon. Danjuma Samuel.
The committee said it adopted “a transparent, orderly and participatory procedure” in carrying out the exercise and screened all 98 aspirants who presented themselves.
“The Screening Committee constituted by the National Working Committee of the Party respectfully submits its report on the screening exercise conducted for aspirants seeking nomination under the platform of the Party for election into the Rivers State House of Assembly for the 2027 General Elections,” the report stated.
“The Committee discharged its mandate with diligence, fairness, transparency and fidelity to the democratic ideals and progressive principles of the Party.”
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The committee described the exercise as largely peaceful but noted that Victor Oko-Jumbo attempted to gain access to the venue with security aides, resulting in a disagreement with policemen on duty.
It stated: “The security agents successfully put the situation under control and the screening continued smoothly.”
The panel also alleged that one of the aspirants attempted to bribe members of the committee and was subsequently handed over to the police.
“In the course of the Committee’s sitting, Mr. Tonye Garrick Tom-George, an aspirant for the Asari-Toru I seat, approached the Committee and handed over an envelope containing money together with his passport photograph in an apparent attempt to improperly influence the screening process. The incident was reported to the police,” the report added.
The committee further disclosed that it received petitions against some aspirants, although it noted that most candidates presented satisfactory documentation.
Among those disqualified were the three pro-Fubara lawmakers Oko-Jumbo, Sokari Goodboy and Timothy Orubitanubigha as well as a key ally of the governor, Chijioke Ihunwo.
Those cleared by the committee included Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, House Leader Major Jack and House Spokesman Enemi Ala George, alongside other loyalists of the Wike political camp.
The report listed several grounds for the disqualification of aspirants, including nomination by party members not financially up to date, attempted inducement of committee members, submission of unsworn affidavits, failure to present voter cards and party membership slips, and conflicting dates of birth.
Other reasons cited were irregularities in nominators’ membership numbers, inconsistencies in names on submitted documents, inadequate number of nominators per ward, and invalid affidavits relating to NECO certificates.
“The Committee is satisfied that it diligently and faithfully discharged the responsibility entrusted to it. The screening exercise was conducted in substantial compliance with the Constitution and Guidelines of the Party and reflected the democratic spirit for which the Party stands,” the report concluded.
The Guardian
