Several aspirants under the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who were disqualified during the party’s recent screening exercise have formally challenged their exclusion before the party’s appeal panel ahead of the forthcoming State House of Assembly primaries.
The APC State House of Assembly Screening Appeal Committee for Rivers State confirmed that it has received about 19 petitions from aspirants who were not cleared during last week’s screening exercise.
Chairman of the appeal panel, Abdul Mahmud, made this known on Monday while briefing journalists at the APC State Secretariat along Aba Road, Port Harcourt.
He recalled that out of 98 aspirants who indicated interest in contesting for the party’s ticket, 33 were cleared, while 65 were disqualified at the screening stage.
According to the earlier report of the Screening Committee led by Dr. Ajibola Muraina, several aspirants were disqualified on grounds linked to breaches of party guidelines, including the use of nominators who were not financially up-to-date members of the party.
The committee also cited provisions of the APC Constitution, which states that only fully registered and financially active members are entitled to vote or be voted for in party elections.
Other reasons listed for disqualification included allegations of inducement and attempted bribery of committee members, submission of unsworn affidavits, failure to present valid voter cards or party membership documents, inconsistencies in personal details such as dates of birth and names, as well as irregular or unverified membership numbers of nominators.
Some cases also involved insufficient or invalid nominators, failure to confirm payment of membership dues, and incomplete academic documentation.
Meanwhile, the list of cleared aspirants was largely dominated by individuals believed to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. They include Maol Dumle, Major M. Jack, Nwabochi Frankline, Ofiks K. Christopher, Enemi Alabo George, Tonye Smart Adoki, Tekenari W. Granville, Azeru Opara, Igwe Obey Aforji, Opuende Lolo Isaiah, Ukalikpe Napoleon, Hope Ugwumadu, Kenneth Minimah, among others.
Additional cleared aspirants include Justina Aniton Okorji, Onyema Rex Nwankwo, Jumbo Soparagha, Wami Solomon, Gift Esede Ali, Ejekwu Chisa Nathan, Peter E. Abbey, Loolo Bulabari Henrietta, Barida Alice Samuel, and several others.
However, the committee stated that 65 aspirants, many of whom are reportedly aligned with the state governor’s camp, were not cleared due to failure to meet the required screening standards.
Some of the disqualified aspirants include Orubibanugha Timothy, Chime Eguma Ezebulike, Onyema Loveday Hechiaru, Tonye Briggs Oniyide, Chris Okey Ochije, Sokari Goodboy Sokari, Chijioke Kemzunum Ihunwo, Nwoziri Chukwuemeka Bishop, Oba Fred Ajubulaka, Kpeden Kenneth, Chigozie Emem, and others.
Others affected include Bobby Abayomi, Victor Oko-Jumbo, Reuben Vincent Obu, Bellor Kingsley Waite, Morris Prince Lelesi, Claudius Princewill, Abdurazaq Tamunodiepriye, Fubara Goodluck Ohaka, and several more.
At the appeal hearing, Chairman Abdul Mahmud, an Abuja-based legal practitioner who stated he is not a member of the APC, said he was appointed by the party’s national leadership to ensure fairness and transparency in the review process.
He explained that the panel’s mandate is to examine petitions filed by affected aspirants and ensure justice in line with party rules, assuring that the process would be handled transparently.
Mahmud also noted that some aspirants had already appeared before the panel with supporting documents and were asked to submit additional materials where necessary before the conclusion of the appeal process.
He further condemned alleged misconduct during the screening exercise, including claims that an aspirant attempted to bribe members of the screening committee.
Speaking on the controversy surrounding the disqualifications, APC State Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, dismissed claims that the process was influenced by political interests linked to Nyesom Wike, insisting that the exercise was strictly guided by party rules and constitutional provisions.
He stressed that all aspirants must comply with the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act, and the Nigerian Constitution, adding that internal party processes must be respected by all contestants.
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