BY CHARLES CHIJIOKE
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State says it has successfully screened 98 aspirants seeking to contest the party’s State House of Assembly primaries across the 32 constituencies in the state, describing the exercise as peaceful, transparent, and orderly amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections.
The screening exercise, conducted at the party secretariat in Port Harcourt on Sunday, comes at a politically sensitive period in Rivers State, where internal battles, defections, and loyalty struggles continue to shape the build-up to the next electoral cycle.
Speaking after the exercise, Secretary of the Screening Committee, Tanko Yamowa, who represented Committee Chairman Mauriana Ajibola, said the process exceeded expectations as no form of disruption or violence was recorded throughout the exercise.
“We thought we might face some challenges, but since yesterday, nobody has come here to cause any trouble. That shows that the APC is one united family. We are hopeful that what we have seen here will also be reflected during the primaries and the general elections,” Yamowa stated.
He added that all aspirants were treated fairly and without discrimination, stressing that the committee would still review reports before taking final decisions regarding the outcome of the screening.
The development follows heightened scrutiny surrounding the APC screening process in Rivers after reports emerged earlier that some politicians believed to be loyal to suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara allegedly failed to scale through the party’s screening stage.
Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, also described the process as smooth and professionally handled, insisting that the party adhered strictly to constitutional and electoral guidelines.
“We have been around here, and there have been no challenges.
The committee has been diligent in carrying out its responsibilities. A total of 98 aspirants seeking to contest for the House of Assembly seats across the 32 constituencies in the state have been screened,” he said.
Ikenga further noted that all aspirants underwent screening in line with the APC constitution, the Nigerian Constitution, and provisions of the Electoral Act as amended.
State Secretary of the party, Eric Nwibani, commended security operatives for maintaining calm throughout the exercise and said every aspirant was given equal opportunity to participate.
Some aspirants who participated in the exercise praised the party leadership and screening panel for what they described as one of the most transparent internal exercises conducted by the APC in Rivers State in recent years.
An aspirant for Etche Constituency I, Chinaordu Nwokocha, said the process reflected the party’s commitment to internal democracy.
“I want to thank God for the successful screening exercise. I also appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Chairman, the National Working Committee, and the leadership of the APC for providing a conducive atmosphere for the screening,” he said.
Another aspirant, Matthew Tekena, described the exercise as seamless and professionally coordinated, while Gogo Friday Isaiah, who is seeking to represent Andoni Constituency, said the screening was “clean, transparent, and successful.”
Political observers say the successful completion of the screening exercise could strengthen the APC’s attempt to consolidate its structure in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections, especially as the party seeks to expand its influence amid the lingering crisis within the state’s political landscape.
The outcome of the primaries is also expected to determine the balance of power within the Rivers APC, particularly among factions battling for control of the party structure in the oil-rich state.
