The renewed political tension between the minister of the federal capital territory, FCT, Barr Nyesom Wike, and the Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, took a dramatic twist as the House of Assembly Screening Committee of the All Progressive Congress, APC, disqualified all 32 aspirants adopted by the governor.
Meanwhile, the four-man committee cleared all 29 serving members of the State House of Assembly loyal to Wike, led by the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, to contest the APC primaries for the Assembly poll in 2027.
The House Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, was said to have picked the nomination form for the House of Representatives.
A total of 98 aspirants were screened by the State House of Assembly Screening Committee for the APC.
A copy of the committee’s report after a two-day screening conducted on Saturday and Sunday at the APC Secretariat in Port Harcourt was obtained on Monday.
The report was signed by Rt Hon. Muraina Ajibola (Chairman); Hon. Ishaku Tanko Yamawo, Secretary; Abdullah Hajia Aisha Abdullahi Adamu, member; and Hon. Danjuma Samuel, member.
According to the report, the committee said it adopted a transparent, orderly, and participatory procedure designed to ensure fairness to all aspirants, saying it screened all 98 aspirants who turned up.
“The Screening Committee constituted by the National Working Committee of the Party respectfully submits its report on the screening exercise conducted for aspirants seeking nomination under the platform of the Party for election into the Rivers State House of Assembly for the 2027 General Elections.
“The Committee discharged its mandate with diligence, fairness, transparency, and fidelity to the democratic ideals and progressive principles of the Party,” it added.
The committee further said the exercise was largely peaceful and orderly, adding that aspirants conducted themselves with maturity and decorum throughout the exercise, except Mr Victor Oko-Jumbo, who insisted on entering the screening venue with a retinue of security aides, thereby resulting in a disagreement with officers of the Nigeria Police Force on duty.