Rivers Assembly: Fubara loyalists reject APC screening report

A myriad of complaints have trailed the report released by the Rivers State House of Assembly screening committee of the All Progressives Congress held in Port Harcourt at the weekend.

Recall that the committee chaired by Ajibola Muraina released its final report following a two-day screening exercise held on Saturday and Sunday at the APC secretariat in the Rivers State capital.

From the report obtained by our correspondent on Monday morning, a total of 33 aspirants were cleared, while 65 others were not cleared.

Our correspondent reports that the four-man committee cleared 33 aspirants, including 28 serving members of the state House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, led by the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, to contest the APC primaries for the Assembly poll in 2027.

The House Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, who is eyeing the Green Chamber of the National Assembly, has already been screened by the APC national secretariat.

A total of 98 aspirants were screened by the committee for the House of Assembly tickets.

The committee reportedly disqualified all 32 aspirants adopted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, including former factional speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo.

A total of 65 aspirants were disqualified by the committee according to the report signed by Ajibola (Chairman), Ishaku Tanko Yamawo, Secretary, Abdullah Hajia Aisha Abdullahi Adamu, member and Danjuma Samuel, member.

The committee said it adopted a transparent, orderly, and participatory procedure designed to ensure fairness to all aspirants, saying it screened all 98 aspirants who turned up.

The report read, “The screening committee constituted by the National Working Committee of the party respectfully submits its report on the screening exercise conducted for aspirants seeking nomination under the platform of the party for election into the Rivers State House of Assembly for the 2027 General Elections.

“The committee discharged its mandate with diligence, fairness, transparency, and fidelity to the democratic ideals and progressive principles of the party.”

The committee further said the exercise was largely peaceful and orderly, adding that aspirants conducted themselves with maturity and decorum throughout the exercise, except “Mr Victor Oko-Jumbo, who insisted on entering the screening venue with a retinue of security aides, thereby resulting in a disagreement with officers of the Nigeria Police Force on duty.

“The security agents successfully put the situation under control, and the screening continued smoothly.”

The committee also said one of the aspirants attempted to bribe its members and was handed over to the police.

“In the course of the committee’s sitting, Mr Tonye Garrick Tom-George, an aspirant for the Asari Toru 1 seat, approached the committee and handed over an envelope containing money together with his passport photograph in an apparent attempt to improperly influence the screening process. The incident was reported to the police,” it added.

While noting that the committee received petitions against some aspirants from some concerned persons, it said aspirants presented complete and satisfactory documentation, even as discrepancies observed in some submissions were duly noted.

From the report seen by our reporter, the three pro-Fubara lawmakers, Oko-Jumbo, Sokari Goodboy and Timothy Orubibanugha, were disqualified, as well as a notable ally of the governor, Chijiole Ihunwo, among other loyalists.

The report, however, stated, “The committee respectfully recommends the following aspirants who successfully satisfied the requirements of the screening exercise and are hereby cleared to participate in the party primaries for the Rivers State House of Assembly elections, Maol Dumle (serving deputy speaker), Major Jack (serving House leader), Enemi Alabo George (serving House spokesman),” among 30 others.

The committee listed 10 reasons for the ‘non-clearance’ of the other aspirants as follows ‘nominations by persons who are not financially up to date members of the party, contrary to Article 9.3 of the party constitution, inducement and attempted bribery of committee members, submission of unsworn affidavits, failure to present voters cards, failure to present party membership slips or cards, conflicting dates of birth’.

Others are “failure to confirm payment of membership dues by nominators, irregular party membership numbers of nominators, inconsistencies in names appearing on submitted documents, insufficient nominators with required numbers which fall short of three nominators per ward and invalid affidavits that failed to disclose material particulars relating to NECO certificates.

“The committee is satisfied that it diligently and faithfully discharged the responsibility entrusted to it. The screening exercise was conducted in substantial compliance with the constitution and guidelines of the party and reflected the democratic spirit for which the party stands,” the report concluded.

However, in a turn of events, the committee secretary issued a disclaimer on the report released by the screening committee, describing it as false and unauthorised, adding that it did not emanate from the appropriate party authorities.

According to the secretary of the screening committee for Rivers State, Tanko Yamowa, the committee concluded the exercise less than 24 hours ago, and no official list had been released by the party at this time.

Yamowa, in the letter dated May 11th, titled “Re: Disclaimer on Purported Screened Aspirants’ List,” said, “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.”

The APC chieftain urged party faithful, aspirants, supporters, and the general public to disregard the purported list, describing it as the handiwork of mischief makers whose play is to create confusion and unnecessary tension within the party.

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

“It is important to note that the screening exercise conducted by the committee headed by Muraina 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.