By Peace Udugba
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified several aspirants linked to Siminalayi Fubara while clearing candidates believed to be loyal to Nyesom Wike in the party’s screening exercise for the Rivers State House of Assembly elections.
The decision was contained in a report released on Sunday by the APC Screening Committee constituted by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
According to the committee, 33 out of the 98 aspirants screened were cleared to participate in the party primaries, while 65 others were disqualified.
The screening exercise was held between May 9 and 10 at the APC State Secretariat along the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway in Rivers State.
The committee stated that the exercise was conducted in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the APC constitution, and the party’s electoral guidelines.
Among those cleared for the primaries were Maol Dumle, Major Jack, Nwabochi Frankline, Tonye Smart Adoki, Hope Ugwumadu, Kenneth Minimah, Arnold Davids, and Gerald Oforji, all believed to be aligned with Wike’s political structure in the state.
However, aspirants reportedly linked to Governor Fubara who were disqualified included Victor Oko Jumbo, Fubara Goodluck Ohaka, Prince Emukuighro Fubara, Tonye Briggs Oniyide, Reuben Vincent Obu, Karibi Bobmanuel, and Tamunobaraiba George.
The committee cited several reasons for the disqualifications, including nomination forms endorsed by financially delinquent party members, unsworn affidavits, absence of voter’s cards and membership slips, inconsistencies in submitted documents, conflicting dates of birth, and irregularities in nominators’ details.
It added that petitions received from party members across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State alleged that some aspirants were nominated by individuals who failed to meet the financial obligations stipulated under Article 9.3 of the APC constitution.
The report also alleged that Tonye Garrick Tom-George, an aspirant for the Asari-Toru Constituency 1 seat, attempted to induce members of the screening panel with money enclosed in an envelope alongside his passport photograph. The committee said the matter was immediately reported to the police.
The screening exercise was described as largely peaceful, except for an incident involving Victor Oko Jumbo, who allegedly attempted to gain access to the venue with security aides in violation of screening guidelines. Police officers later intervened, allowing the process to continue without further disruption.
