The political rift between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has intensified after the All Progressives Congress screening committee disqualified three House of Representatives members loyal to the governor from contesting in the party’s primaries, Spear News Nigeria can report.
The committee, however, cleared all allies of Minister Wike, including Martin Amaewhule, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who is seeking a ticket for the House of Representatives.
The three disqualified House of Representatives members are Hon. Anderson Alisson, Hon. Abiante Awaji Imombek, and Hon. Boma Goodhead .
They were among the lawmakers who sided with Governor Fubara during the protracted political crisis in Rivers State and were also part of the four legislators who defected with the governor to the APC .
The fourth lawmaker who defected with Fubara, Hon. Boniface Sunday Emerengwa, is said to have obtained the Senate nomination forms, though the final list for Senate aspirants has not yet been released.
Cleared Wike LoyalistsThose cleared by the committee include Hon. Hart Cyril, Hon. Blessing Amadi, Hon. Dumnamene Detor, Hon. Martin Amaewhule (who replaces Hon. OK Chinda after the latter purchased APC governorship forms), Hon. Solomon Bob, Hon. Uche Felix Nwaeke, and Hon. Victor Chukwuemele Obuzor .
Other allies of the FCT minister were also cleared to replace the three disqualified lawmakers in the primaries scheduled for Friday, May 15, 2026 .
Widespread DisqualificationsThe Rivers APC screening committee, chaired by Ajibola Muraina, conducted a two-day exercise at the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt.
A total of 98 aspirants participated, out of which only 33 were cleared while 65 failed to scale through .All 32 aspirants adopted by Governor Fubara—including former factional speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo and two other lawmakers loyal to the governor—were reportedly disqualified .
In contrast, the committee cleared all 29 serving members of the State House of Assembly loyal to Wike, led by Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol .
APC Denies Wike’s InfluenceThe Rivers State APC chapter has refuted allegations that Minister Wike influenced the screening outcome.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, insisted that the process was conducted independently and fairly.
Ikenga noted that Wike is not a member of the APC and has no authority or involvement in the party’s internal screening activities.
He stated that while the former Rivers governor has publicly backed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, that should not be interpreted as influence over APC affairs in the state .
“Reports claiming that aspirants linked to Wike were given preferential treatment, while those believed to be loyal to Governor Fubara were denied clearance, are completely inaccurate,” Ikenga said .
Appeal Committee Constituted to address complaints from the 65 unsuccessful aspirants, the party has constituted an appeal committee to review petitions and reassess disputed cases.
The committee chairman, Abdul Mahmud, explained that the appeal process would end on May 13, 2026 .
Mahmud stated that some aspirants have been allowed to submit missing documents that were not provided during the initial screening. However, he stressed that the committee relies mainly on documentary evidence rather than verbal explanations .
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