The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has cleared 33 aspirants to participate in its forthcoming House of Assembly primaries while disqualifying 65 others over various irregularities.
The screening exercise, conducted by a committee headed by Muraina Ajibola, involved 98 aspirants seeking to contest the 32 seats in the state assembly under the party’s platform.
According to the committee’s report, all 29 serving lawmakers led by Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol were successfully screened and cleared for the 2027 assembly election primaries.
The report also disclosed that the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, has opted to pursue a seat in the House of Representatives after obtaining the party’s nomination form.
Committee members, including secretary Ishaku Tanko Yamawo, Aisha Abdullahi Adamu, and Danjuma Samuel, said several aspirants were disqualified for failing to meet the party’s requirements.
The report listed offences such as submission of incomplete or inconsistent documents, lack of valid voter cards and membership slips, discrepancies in age declarations, unsworn affidavits, and invalid nominations by party members not financially up to date.
It further accused some aspirants of attempting to influence the screening process through inducement and bribery.
The committee also noted that some applicants failed to properly disclose details relating to their NECO certificates in the affidavits submitted.
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Describing the process as transparent and inclusive, the committee said all aspirants were invited to appear before it with original copies of their credentials for verification.
Among those disqualified were aspirants believed to be loyal to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former APC governorship candidate Tonye Cole.
Notable politicians affected include Chijioke Ihunwo, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and Sokari Goodboy.
The report added that the 33 aspirants cleared for the primaries are considered loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The party urged all aspirants to confirm their screening status at the APC notice board in the state.
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