Trending 
The internal crisis within the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken another dramatic turn after the party’s House of Assembly Screening Committee reportedly recommended the disqualification of 65 aspirants linked to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former governorship candidate Tonye Cole.
The screening committee, chaired by Hon. Muraina Ajibola, also cleared 33 aspirants believed to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to participate in the party’s forthcoming primaries.
According to the committee, the affected aspirants failed to meet several constitutional and administrative requirements laid down by the party for participation in the primaries.
Among the reasons listed for the disqualification were allegations of inducement and attempted bribery of committee members, submission of unsworn affidavits, and failure to present valid voter cards. The committee also cited the inability of some aspirants to provide party membership slips or cards as grounds for their disqualification.
Further issues identified included conflicting birth dates across submitted documents, inconsistencies in names appearing on official records, and irregularities in party membership numbers linked to nominators.
The committee also stated that some aspirants failed to have their nominators confirm payment of membership dues, while others could not provide the required minimum of three nominators per ward as stipulated by party guidelines.
Another major concern raised during the exercise involved affidavits connected to NECO certificates. According to the committee, some of the affidavits submitted failed to disclose material particulars required for proper verification.
The outcome of the screening exercise is expected to deepen political tensions within the Rivers APC, where rival camps aligned with Governor Fubara and Nyesom Wike have continued to battle for control of the party structure ahead of future political contests in the state.
