Loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara were noticeably absent as the All Progressives Congress released the final list of cleared aspirants for the Rivers State House of Assembly primary election scheduled for Wednesday.
Among those excluded from the final list were former factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and former Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Chijioke Ihunwo, both considered strong allies of Governor Fubara during the prolonged political crisis that rocked the state.
Ihunwo had earlier been speculated to emerge as the anointed Speaker of the Assembly before his eventual disqualification by the party’s screening committee.
Oko-Jumbo and Ihunwo, alongside 65 other aspirants, were initially disqualified during the APC screening exercise conducted ahead of the primaries.
Following their disqualification, the affected aspirants petitioned the party’s screening appeal committee headed by Abdul Mahmud. The committee had assured petitioners that its recommendations would be forwarded to the APC National Secretariat for consideration, although no official outcome of the appeal process was subsequently communicated.
However, the final list released by the party cleared the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Dumle Maol, House Leader Major Jack, and 34 other aspirants believed to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to contest for seats in the 32-member Assembly.
The APC Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, Chibuike Ikenga, confirmed the development in a statement issued Tuesday night, noting that the final list originated from the party’s National Secretariat.
Ikenga urged aspirants to verify their status at the party’s state secretariat in Port Harcourt.
Part of the statement read: “This is to convey to the aspirants, party members and the public the final list of cleared and uncleared aspirants for the House of Assembly primary election scheduled as stated above.
“Kindly note that this is for the information of the aspirants, who need to cross-check with the party through the notice board at the state party secretariat located at No. 268B Port Harcourt/Aba Express Road, PH.
“Furthermore, this is as released by the National leadership of the party.”
The latest development is expected to further deepen political tensions within Rivers State as the battle for control of the state’s political structure intensifies ahead of future elections.
