Rivers APC Upholds Non-clearance Of 65 Assembly Aspirants

The All Progressives Congress (APC) State House of Assembly Screening Appeal Committee for Rivers State has upheld the non-clearance of 65 aspirants, mostly supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Chairman of the appeal committee, Abdul Mahmud, who disclosed this in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the committee also upheld the clearance of 33 aspirants for the forthcoming primaries of the party.

LEADERSHIP observed that majority of those cleared the APC House of Assembly primaries are loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.

It also observed that among supporters of Fubara who wrote petition following their non-clearance are the former factional Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo and former Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, Chijioke Ihunwo.

The report of the APC Screening Appeal Committee came barely 24 hours after the secretary of the Screening Committee, Hon. Tanko Yamowa issued a statement denying that it has released it’s report on the screening of aspirants.

The statement, dated May 11, 2026, read; “The attention of the party leadership has been drawn to the circulation of a purported list of cleared and uncleared aspirants for the Rivers State House of Assembly currently making rounds across various media platforms.

“We wish to categorically state that the said publication is false, unauthorized, and does not emanate from the appropriate party authorities.

“It is important to note that the screening exercise conducted by the committee headed by Mauriana Ajibola was concluded less than 24 hours ago, and no official list has been released by the party at this time.

“As a responsible political party, we are guided by established procedures, rules, and timelines regarding the publication of screening results and related information.

“Any official communication concerning the status of aspirants will be communicated through the appropriate channels in due course.

“We therefore urge party faithful, aspirants, supporters, and the general public to disregard the purported list and treat it as the handiwork of mischief makers whose intention is to create confusion and unnecessary tension within the party.

“The party remains committed to transparency, fairness, and due process throughout the entire exercise.”