The screening exercise for aspirants seeking the All Progressives Congress (APC) tickets for the Rivers State House of Assembly ended in controversy after the party cleared only 33 out of 98 aspirants, while 65 others were disqualified over alleged irregularities and constitutional breaches.
The exercise, conducted between May 9 and 10 at the APC State Secretariat in Port Harcourt, was supervised by a committee chaired by Muraina Ajibola.
According to the committee’s report, many of the affected aspirants were screened out over issues ranging from invalid affidavits and discrepancies in dates of birth to nominations allegedly endorsed by party members who were not financially up to date.
The committee stressed that compliance with Article 9.3 of the APC Constitution — which limits voting and elective privileges to fully registered and financially compliant members — played a decisive role in the outcome.
“Compliance with Article 9.3 of the Party Constitution was a major consideration in the screening exercise,” the report stated.
Among the 33 aspirants cleared to proceed to the party primaries are Maol Dumle, Major M. Jack, Nwabochi Frankline, Tonye Smart Adoki, Justina Aniton Okorji, Onyema Rex Nwankwo, Jumbo Soparagha, Arnold O. Davids, Gerald C. Oforji and Amakri Awowari.
However, the exercise was overshadowed by allegations of misconduct and tension at the venue.
The committee report alleged that aspirant Tonye Garrick Tom-George, from Asari Toru Constituency I, attempted to compromise the panel by allegedly presenting an envelope containing money to committee members during the screening.
Another aspirant, Victor Oko Jumbo, was also cited following a confrontation with security personnel after he allegedly insisted on entering the venue with multiple security aides.
“The screening exercise was generally peaceful but witnessed incidents relating to alleged inducement and security protocol violations,” the report added.
The development has heightened political tension within the Rivers APC ahead of the party primaries, especially as several disqualified aspirants are considered influential figures in their various constituencies.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State chapter of the APC has opened the door for appeals by aggrieved aspirants.
Confirming the authenticity of the screening report during a live interview on Channels Television, Rivers APC Publicity Secretary Chibike Ikenga acknowledged the wave of disqualifications.
“I’m aware that some persons were disqualified,” Ikenga said during the interview.
The party further directed affected aspirants seeking redress to submit their appeals at the APC secretariat by 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
“Aspirants who wish to appeal the outcome are expected at the party secretariat by 10 a.m. on Tuesday,” the party stated in its notice to contestants.
Political observers say the scale of the disqualifications could significantly reshape the internal balance of power within the Rivers APC, particularly in constituencies where prominent contenders failed to secure clearance ahead of the primaries.
The screening outcome comes amid continuing political realignments in Rivers State, where party loyalties and alliances remain fluid ahead of the next electoral cycle.
