Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
In a move that has laid bare the depth of the political war in Rivers State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified every single aspirant believed to be loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara from contesting the party’s senatorial primaries, while clearing all candidates aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to run virtually unopposed. In a statement issued on Sunday by the Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, the party confirmed that Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo, representing Rivers West Senatorial District, was not cleared to participate in the primaries. Also disqualified were former Secretary to the Rivers State Government and key Fubara ally, Chief Dr Tammy Wenike Danagogo, as well as businessman and former presidential aspirant Tein Jack-Rich. Meanwhile, aspirants widely believed to be loyal to Wike successfully scaled through the screening exercise. Among those cleared were Felix Amechi Obuah for Rivers West Senatorial District, as well as Allwell Onyesoh and Chief Barry Balera Mwara for Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
The development is being interpreted in political circles as a major setback for Governor Fubara’s loyalists seeking to secure influence within the APC ahead of the next general elections. The disqualifications extended beyond the senatorial race. In the run-up to the House of Representatives primaries held on Saturday, four loyalists of Governor Fubara were disqualified by the party. The decision was contained in the final list of aspirants released by the party and made available to journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday. Among those disqualified were two serving members of the House of Representatives: Awaji-Inombek Abiante and Boma Goodhead, both regarded as close allies of Governor Fubara. Abiante, a prominent Rivers politician, was among those who publicly backed Fubara during the political crisis in the state and reportedly purchased the governor’s nomination form in support of the incumbent. The other aspirants not cleared by the party are retired Air Commodore John Opera and Anderson Igbiki.
A total of 14 House of Representatives aspirants were disqualified nationwide, with four from Rivers State. The Rivers State disqualified list included Air Commodore John Azubuike Opara (Rtd), who was seeking the Port Harcourt seat; Hon. Anderson Allison Igbiki of Okrika/Ogu/Bolo; Awaji Imombek D. Abirite of Andoni/Opori/Nkoko; and Hon. Boma Goodhead of Asari Toru/Akuku-Toro. Meanwhile, 21 aspirants were cleared by the APC to participate in the primaries across various federal constituencies in the state. Among those cleared is the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, who is contesting for the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency seat. Amaewhule is seeking to replace his kinsman and current Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda.
The screening committee for the Rivers State House of Assembly also disqualified the former factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, and 64 other aspirants from contesting the forthcoming State Assembly primaries. Most of the disqualified aspirants were core loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The screening committee report, signed by the Chairman, Rt. Hon. Muraina Ajibola, and three other members, stated that the aspirants were screened out for failing to meet requirements, citing reasons such as invalid affidavits and conflicting dates of birth or nominations. Conversely, 33 aspirants loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, most of whom are incumbent members of the Rivers Assembly, were cleared to participate.
Political observers alleged that the action may not be unconnected with perceived disloyalty to the FCT minister. A House of Assembly aspirant in the APC alleged that Banigo’s disqualification may be linked to her neutral stance during the political crisis between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara. “Though she served as Wike’s deputy for eight years and later became senator through his support, she did not approve of the manner Governor Fubara was allegedly treated,” the source claimed. The source added that Danagogo may have suffered a similar fate for failing to publicly align with Wike during the political crisis. “He served as Secretary to the State Government under both Wike and Fubara, but was not visibly supportive of Wike during the crisis period,” the source alleged.
Reacting to the development, a human rights activist, Solomon Lenu, warned that the disqualifications could trigger internal crisis within the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections. Lenu said the treatment of some founding members and loyalists of the party could lead to deep divisions within the APC. “Some of those disqualified may remain in the party and work against its interests during the elections,” he said. He further argued that denying aspirants the opportunity to test their popularity at the polls undermines democratic principles. “Everybody should be allowed to test his or her popularity through a transparent process,” he added. As of the time of filing this report, there had been no official reaction from Governor Fubara’s camp regarding the screening outcome.
The Rivers dimension has emerged as perhaps the clearest example of the political undercurrents behind the crisis. There, the screening exercise became intertwined with the continuing rivalry between Wike and Fubara. Reports indicate that aspirants believed to be loyal to Governor Fubara were largely disqualified, while aspirants aligned with Wike reportedly secured clearance. The development has reinforced the widespread perception that the APC screening exercise was not merely about qualification requirements but also about consolidating political control ahead of future battles. The Rivers scenario is especially dangerous because it reveals how unresolved personal and factional rivalries were being imported into party structures. What should ordinarily be a procedural exercise became a proxy war between entrenched political camps struggling for supremacy.
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