The All Progressives Congress (APC) Screening Committee for the Rivers State House of Assembly has cleared 33 aspirants and disqualified 65 others following a two-day screening exercise held on May 9 and 10, 2026, at the party’s State Secretariat in Port Harcourt.

Click Here to Join Our Whatsapp channel 

The screening committee, chaired by Rt. Hon. Muraina Ajibola, screened a total of 98 aspirants seeking to contest the forthcoming House of Assembly primaries.

Party sources disclosed that the 65 aspirants who failed the screening are largely believed to be loyalists of suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former APC governorship candidate Tonye Cole, a development already generating fresh political tension within the party ahead of the primaries.

According to the committee’s report, the exercise was generally peaceful but recorded incidents of alleged inducement and attempted bribery involving committee members, alongside moments of security friction.

33 Aspirants Cleared

The following aspirants were successfully cleared after meeting the party’s constitutional and documentation requirements:

Maol Dumle, Major M. Jack, Nwabochi Frankline, Ofiks K. Christopher, Enemi Alabo George, Tonye Smart Adoki, Tekenari W. Granville, Azeru Opara, Igwe Obey Aforji, Opuende Lolo Isaiah, Ukalikpe Napoleon, Hope Ugwumadu, Kenneth Minimah, Justina Aniton Okorji, Onyema Rex Nwankwo, Jumbo Soparagha, Wami Solomon, Gift Esede Ali, Ejekwu Chisa Nathan, Peter E. Abbey, Loolo Bulabari Henrietta, Barida Alice Samuel, Ohanuna Bright N., Kue Yeghene, Nwankwo Chimezie C., Emeji Gloria Chika, Ejekwu Ezebunwo Leslie, Okpokipou Peters, Arnold O. Davids, Gerald C. Oforji, Amadi Promise Amadi, Opuene Thompson Atekebo and Amakri Awowari.

65 Aspirants Disqualified

The disqualified aspirants, many of whom are alleged to belong to the Fubara and Tonye Cole political camp within the APC, include:

Orubibanugha Timothy, Chime Eguma Ezebulike, Onyema Loveday Hechiaru, Tonye Briggs Oniyide, Chris Okey Ochije, Amua Isioma Henry, Sokari Goodboy Sokari, Chijioke Kemzunum Ihunwo, Ideye Granville, Nwoziri Chukwuemeka Best Bishop, Oba Fred Ajubulaka, Kpeden Kenneth, Chigozie Emem, Emeji Wisdom Chimele, Gift Okere, Jolly Benjamin Ngbor, Luke Mobene Eneriene, Nwankwoala Paul, Prince Lezina Ngbor, Bobby Abayomi, Victor Oko Jumbo, Reuben Vincent Obu, Bellor Kingsley Waite, Morris Prince Lelesi, Claudius Princewill, Abdurazaq Tamunodiepriye, Fubara Goodluck Ohaka, Berebupakabo Isaac Sekibo, Prince Achor, Sokari Samuel Reginald, Wechie Ndubisi Raymond, Tyger Ebemeniya Dumo, Goodluck G. Menekpugi, Gbosi Mathew Bardagara, Tonye Garrick Tom-George, Prince Emukuighro Fubara, Tamunobaraiba George, Obunezi O. Clinton, Chinondu Wokocha, Akpanah Ibibo, Tamunokuro Alex Somiari, Opakirite Tonye Lawson, Nengisa Akuro-Egerton, Okere C. Chigozie, Igwe Princewill Ake, Karibi Karibi Bobmanuel, Chizobam Oba Wokekoro, Tamunotonye Briggs, Victory Victor Uchendu, Crowther S. Snithers, Green Tamunodienye, Ibima Firstbury Garrick, Atuzie Ntekachi Collins, Gogo-Ogute Isaiah, Murphy Deemua, Adele Justice Nkaniye, Williams Chimadhu, Epelle Sotonye P., Awoala Daniel Wokoma, Tamunotonye Lolomari, Ejekwe Princewill Amos, Oduye Tom-West, Solomon Deesi Lenu, Legborsi Sunday Yamaabana and Macsunday Uziuke Ugwu.

Reasons for Disqualification

The committee listed several reasons for the non-clearance of the affected aspirants, including:

  • Nominations by persons who were not financially up-to-date members of the party, contrary to Article 9.3 of the APC Constitution
  • Inducement and attempted bribery of committee members
  • Submission of unsworn affidavits
  • Failure to present voter’s cards
  • Failure to present party membership slips or cards
  • Conflicting dates of birth
  • Failure to confirm payment of membership dues by nominators
  • Irregular party membership numbers of nominators
  • Inconsistencies in names appearing on submitted documents
  • Insufficient nominators, falling short of the required three nominators per ward
  • Invalid affidavits that failed to disclose material particulars relating to NECO certificates

The committee stated that it concluded its assignment on May 10, 2026, and has forwarded its report to the APC leadership ahead of the party primaries in Rivers State.