BY CHARLES CHIJIOKE
Fresh cracks have emerged within the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after several politicians believed to be loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara failed to scale through the party’s screening for House of Assembly primaries ahead of the 2027 political cycle.
The development is already fueling speculations of a deepening power struggle within the APC structure in Rivers State, with political observers interpreting the outcome as a major setback for Fubara’s camp in its ongoing battle for relevance and influence.
Among those reportedly disqualified by the screening committee are former Obio/Akpor council chairman Chijioke Ihunwo, alongside serving lawmakers Sokari Goodboy and Victor Oko-Jumbo — all widely regarded as close allies of the governor.
Their exclusion from the final list has intensified discussions over the internal balance of power within the party, particularly as many of those cleared are believed to enjoy the backing of former Rivers governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Those who successfully passed the screening include Maol Dumle, Major Jack, Enemi Alabo George, Tonye Smart Adoki, and Tekenari Granville, figures many party insiders associate with the Wike political bloc.
The screening exercise was confirmed by Rivers APC publicity secretary Chibike Ikenga at a politically sensitive period when alignments and counter-alignments are already shaping the permutations ahead of future elections in the oil-rich state.
Political analysts say the outcome goes beyond routine party procedures and may signal a calculated consolidation of the APC structure by forces loyal to Wike, whose influence in Rivers politics remains formidable despite leaving office.
The latest development also raises questions about the political future of Fubara’s loyalists within the APC and whether the governor’s camp may eventually be pushed toward seeking alternative platforms or negotiating new alliances.
Fubara, who emerged governor under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, defected to the APC last year following his prolonged political feud with Wike — a crisis that reshaped the power equation in Rivers State and triggered months of institutional confrontation.
With control of the Rivers State House of Assembly still seen as a critical weapon in the wider political contest, the screening outcome is expected to further heighten tensions between both camps as the battle for supremacy ahead of 2027 gradually intensifies.
The development has also strengthened perceptions that the APC in Rivers may be evolving into a largely unified structure under Wike’s dominance, leaving uncertainty over how much political space remains for Fubara and his supporters within the party.
