The political friction between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has intensified following the disqualification of 32 aspirants loyal to the governor by the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly Screening Committee.
While the governor’s preferred candidates were rejected, the four-man committee cleared all 29 serving members of the State House of Assembly loyal to Wike, led by Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, to contest the 2027 primaries.
The committee, chaired by Rt. Hon. Muraina Ajibola, screened a total of 98 aspirants over a two-day period at the APC Secretariat in Port Harcourt. In its report, the committee maintained that it followed a transparent and fair procedure intended to uphold the party’s democratic ideals.
Notably, the report mentioned that current House Speaker Martin Amaewhule has moved to pick up a nomination form for the House of Representatives rather than seeking re-election to the state assembly.
While the exercise was described as largely peaceful, the committee noted an incident involving Mr. Victor Oko-Jumbo, who reportedly attempted to enter the venue with a large security detail, leading to a brief disagreement with police officers.
Additionally, the committee claimed that one aspirant was handed over to the police after allegedly attempting to bribe committee members. The results of this screening further solidify the internal divisions within the state’s political landscape as the parties prepare for the 2027 general elections.