The Rivers State House of Assembly Screening Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified all 32 applicants apparently supported by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, including former factional Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo and two other governor-aligned members.
However, the committee approved 29 serving members affiliated with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, led by Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, to participate in the party’s primaries ahead of the 2027 Assembly election.
Martin Amaewhule, Speaker of the House, is also claimed to have secured the party’s nomination form to run for the House of Representatives.
The APC National Working Committee formed a four-member screening panel, which heard 98 candidates. The process took place over the weekend at the party secretariat in Port Harcourt.
The committee’s report, which The Guardian received on Monday, was signed by Rt. Hon. Muraina Ajibola (Chairman), Hon. Ishaku Tanko Yamawo (Secretary), Abdullah Hajia Aisha Abdullahi Adamu, and Hon. Danjuma Samuel.
According to the report, the committee carried out the process in “a transparent, orderly, and participatory procedure” and examined all 98 candidates 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.”
The committee described the exercise as mainly calm but observed that Victor Oko-Jumbo attempted to enter the site with security aides, resulting in a conflict with police officers on duty.
It stated, “The security agents successfully put the situation under control, and the screening continued smoothly.”
The panel also claimed that one of the candidates attempted to bribe committee members and was later turned over to the authorities.
“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 also revealed that it received petitions against several hopefuls, despite the fact that most candidates provided adequate documents.
Among those disqualified were three pro-Fubara MPs, Oko-Jumbo, Sokari Goodboy, and Timothy Orubitanubigha, as well as the governor’s close associate, Chijioke Ihunwo.
The committee cleared Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, House Leader Major Jack, and House Spokesman Enemi Alabo George, among other Wike political supporters.
The report listed several grounds for aspirants’ disqualification, including nomination by party members who are not financially stable, attempted inducement of committee members, submission of unsworn affidavits, failure to present voter cards and party membership slips, and conflicting birth dates.
Other grounds stated were abnormalities in nominators’ membership numbers, inaccuracies in names on submitted documents, an insufficient number of nominators per ward, and incorrect affidavits about NECO certifications.
“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.
