Fresh crisis has hit the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following conflicting claims over the outcome of a screening exercise for state House of Assembly aspirants.
Earlier it was reported that 65 out of 98 aspirants who purchased nomination forms were disqualified during the screening conducted last weekend.
Most of those screened out were said to be loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, were largely cleared to contest the primaries.
The screening committee report was signed by its chairman, Rt. Hon. Muraina Ajibola, and three other members. The state APC Publicity Secretary, Chubike Ikenga, circulated copies of the document.
However, the Secretary of the Screening Committee, Hon. Tanko Yamowa, has strongly disowned the report, describing it as fake, unauthorized, and the work of mischief makers.
In a statement, Yamowa said the screening was concluded less than 24 hours earlier and that no official list of cleared or disqualified aspirants had been released by the party.
“The attention of the party leadership has been drawn to the circulation of a purported list… We wish to categorically state that the said publication is false, unauthorized, and does not emanate from the appropriate party authorities,” he said.
Yamowa urged party members and the public to disregard the circulating list and wait for official communication through proper channels.In response, Ikenga dismissed Yamowa’s position as “fake news” and insisted the report was authentic.
He advised disqualified aspirants, mostly Fubara loyalists, to file appeals with the party’s appeal committee beginning the following day.
The public disagreement highlights the deepening rift between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike and his camp are reportedly working to weaken Fubara’s influence in the state.The internal crisis in the APC has also drawn the attention of opposition parties in the region, who are looking to capitalize on the divisions.
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