Fresh political tensions have erupted within the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress following the release of the final report of the State House of Assembly Screening Committee, which cleared only 33 aspirants out of the 98 screened for the party’s anticipated 2027 Assembly primaries.
The report, obtained on Monday after a two-day screening exercise conducted at the party secretariat in Port Harcourt, has already sparked intense debate across political circles in the state, particularly over the fate of aspirants aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
According to findings, the four-man screening committee approved all 29 serving lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, paving the way for them to participate in the APC primaries ahead of the 2027 State Assembly election.
The lawmakers, led by Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, were reportedly among the first group of aspirants to successfully scale through the screening process without major objections from the committee.
However, the development took a dramatic turn as all 32 aspirants believed to be loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara were reportedly disqualified by the committee.
Among those said to have failed the screening were former factional Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo and two other lawmakers associated with the governor’s political camp.
The mass disqualification has intensified concerns over the widening political divide between supporters of Governor Fubara and loyalists of Wike, whose influence continues to shape the power structure within Rivers politics despite his relocation to Abuja as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Party insiders disclosed that the screening process, which lasted for two days under heavy security presence, examined aspirants based on party loyalty, electoral viability, documentation, and compliance with internal APC guidelines.
While the committee did not officially state detailed reasons for the disqualification of the 65 aspirants, sources within the party hinted that questions surrounding party membership records, inconsistencies in documentation, and allegations of anti-party activities may have contributed to the outcome.
The screening report has nevertheless triggered accusations of political bias from supporters of the governor, who argue that the exercise was designed to systematically sideline the Fubara camp from the emerging APC structure in Rivers State.
Observers say the latest development further reflects the lingering political crisis that has engulfed the state since the fallout between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Wike.
The crisis, which initially began as a power struggle over control of the state’s political machinery and the House of Assembly, has since evolved into one of the fiercest political battles in recent Nigerian history.
At the center of the conflict is the Rivers State House of Assembly, where divisions between lawmakers loyal to the governor and those aligned with Wike have repeatedly disrupted legislative activities and governance in the state.
Political analysts believe the latest screening outcome may significantly alter the balance of power ahead of the 2027 elections, especially if the APC succeeds in consolidating lawmakers loyal to Wike under its platform.
The situation became even more intriguing following reports that the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, may be preparing for a higher political office after allegedly obtaining nomination forms to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives.
Amaewhule, regarded as one of Wike’s strongest political allies in the state, has remained a central figure in the prolonged legislative crisis that has divided the Assembly into rival camps.
Political observers believe his possible move to the National Assembly could signal broader strategic realignments within the APC as preparations intensify for the next election cycle.
Meanwhile, supporters of the disqualified aspirants have begun consultations over possible legal and political responses to the screening outcome.
Some party stakeholders fear that the exclusion of a large number of aspirants may deepen internal divisions within the APC and potentially weaken the party’s unity ahead of the 2027 polls.
Others, however, insist that the screening committee merely carried out its constitutional responsibilities and that only aspirants who met the party’s requirements deserved clearance.
As reactions continue to trail the report, many political watchers say the screening exercise may represent the opening chapter of a much bigger contest for control of Rivers State ahead of 2027.
With both the Fubara and Wike camps determined to maintain influence, the battle for dominance within the APC and the broader political landscape of Rivers State appears far from over.
