Rivers APC Clears 33 Aspirants, Denies Allegations Of Preferential Treatment

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied allegations that House of Assembly aspirants loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, were favoured during the party’s screening exercise, while aspirants believed to be loyal to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara were denied clearance.

Speaking with journalists at the APC State Secretariat in Port Harcourt, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, described the allegations as misleading and unfair. He maintained that Wike is not a member of the APC and had no involvement in the screening process.
Ikenga stated that although Wike had openly declared support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it was wrong to connect him with the outcome of the screening exercise.
According to him, the screening process was conducted peacefully and transparently. He disclosed that the committee’s report indicated that 33 aspirants were cleared, while 65 others were not cleared.
He further explained that the party had set up an appeal committee to review petitions submitted by aggrieved aspirants, adding that the exercise had continued without disruption.
Chairman of the Appeal Committee, Abdul Mahmud, said the committee received a detailed report containing the names of all aspirants who were cleared and those who were not cleared during the screening exercise.
Mahmud revealed that a total of 98 aspirants participated in the exercise, with 33 cleared and 65 not cleared.
He stated that the committee had been receiving and reviewing petitions from affected aspirants and would conclude its sitting on May 13, 2026.
According to him, some aspirants who failed to provide certain documents during the screening process had been given another opportunity to submit them before the close of the appeal exercise.
Mahmud noted that the committee attached greater importance to documentary evidence than oral submissions, stressing that the process was strictly guided by the documents presented before the panel.
One of the aspirants for Andoni Constituency, Gogo Friday, criticised the party for allegedly failing to officially communicate the reasons for his non-clearance despite purchasing nomination forms and participating in the screening exercise.
He disclosed that the committee informed him that some of the individuals who nominated him had not paid their party dues, while discrepancies in the names appearing on some of his documents were also identified during the screening process, a development he said affected his clearance.