Rivers APC disqualifies 65 aspirants as Fubara loyalists fail screening ahead of 2027 primaries

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has released the list of cleared and disqualified aspirants ahead of the party’s primaries for the 2027 general elections, deepening political tensions within the state.

According to the party, 33 aspirants were cleared to participate in the primaries, while 65 others failed the screening process conducted by the party’s committee.

A major talking point from the exercise was the reported disqualification of all 32 aspirants believed to be aligned with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The development is expected to intensify the ongoing political rivalry between supporters of the governor and loyalists of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.

In contrast, incumbent members of the Rivers State House of Assembly considered loyal to Wike were successfully cleared by the party to contest in the primaries.

The party disclosed the outcome in a statement signed by the Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga. He advised aspirants who purchased House of Assembly Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to confirm their status at the party’s state secretariat located along Aba Road in Port Harcourt.

Ikenga also announced that aspirants dissatisfied with the screening results could file appeals through the party secretariat. According to him, the appeal process is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, at 10 a.m.

Details released by the screening committee outlined several reasons for the disqualifications. The committee cited issues including failure to meet party membership requirements, inconsistencies in submitted documents and irregularities in nomination procedures.

Other reasons listed include alleged inducement and attempted bribery of committee members, submission of unsworn affidavits, failure to present voter cards or party membership slips, conflicting dates of birth and invalid affidavits linked to educational certificates.

The committee further stated that some aspirants failed to provide the minimum required number of valid nominators from their wards, while others could not confirm payment of membership dues by their nominators, contrary to the APC constitution.