Port Harcourt — The All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers State House of Assembly Screening Committee has disqualified three key loyalists of Governor Siminalyi Fubara from participating in the party’s primaries for the 2027 elections.
Chijoke Ihunwo, Victor Oko-Jumbo and Sokari Goodboy were among several aspirants identified as loyalists of Governor Fubara and the party’s 2023 governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, who were ruled ineligible by the committee. The screening exercise was held on May 9 and 10.
According to a report of the committee made available to The Nation newspaper, only 33 of the 98 aspirants who took part in the screening were cleared to proceed. The committee said the remaining aspirants did not meet the requirements of the screening exercise.
The report, dated May 10, was signed by committee chairman Muraine Ajibola, the committee’s secretary Ishake Yamawe and member Danjuma Samuel.
The APC in Rivers State has not yet commented on the committee’s findings. The development is likely to affect internal party alignments ahead of the 2027 elections. Further details are expected as the party finalises arrangements for the primaries.
