Rivers APC Kicks Off Appeal Hearing for Disqualified State Assembly Candidates

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State has commenced the hearing of appeals filed by aspirants who purchased expression of interest and nomination forms for the Rivers State House of Assembly ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The appeal hearing began on Tuesday at the party’s state secretariat in Port Harcourt, with 19 petitions submitted before the appeal committee for consideration.

Speaking with journalists, Chairman of the Appeal Panel and human rights lawyer, Abdul Mahmud, explained that the committee’s mandate is to review complaints raised by aspirants against the outcome of the screening exercise conducted by the Screening Committee on Saturday and Sunday.

The development further confirms the authenticity of the list of cleared and disqualified aspirants earlier released by the party on Sunday night in preparation for the forthcoming primaries.

According to the list, 33 aspirants were cleared to participate in the primaries, while 65 others were disqualified.

Mahmud assured stakeholders that the panel would carry out its assignment transparently and fairly.

He also dismissed insinuations that the disqualification of some aspirants was influenced by alleged factional interests within the party.

Recall that all 32 aspirants believed to be aligned with the camp of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, were disqualified during the screening exercise.

However, Mahmud maintained that the panel’s decision would be based strictly on the documents submitted by aspirants during the screening process.

“People have raised the issue of factionalisation of the party in the state, saying they suspect that they were not cleared because they belong to one faction.

“I’m not interested in your faction; I’m interested in your documents before me. It is your documents that I speak to. And I’ve just seen documents that I’ve spoken to.”

Mahmud also expressed concern over the conduct of one of the aspirants, Tonye Tom-George, whom the screening committee allegedly accused of attempting to financially induce members of the committee by handing over an envelope containing money alongside his passport photograph in a bid to influence the outcome of the exercise.

He noted, however, that Tom-George, despite filing an appeal, had yet to appear before the panel.

Also speaking, the Rivers State APC Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, dismissed claims that the screening exercise was influenced by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Ikenga stated that Wike is not a member of the APC, despite openly declaring support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, stressing that it was unfair to link him to the screening process.

His remarks followed allegations that the 33 aspirants cleared for the primaries, many of whom are believed to be loyal to the FCT Minister and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, were selectively favoured.

Ikenga maintained that all 98 aspirants seeking Assembly tickets were required to comply with the party’s guidelines, electoral regulations and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

According to him, the aspirants appeared before the screening committee, which completed its assignment and submitted its report, while the Appeal Panel is now reviewing complaints arising from the exercise.

He said, “The Appeal Panel is there to take another look at whether the decisions taken by the Screening Committee were properly done and fair.

“And that’s the process we are in now, and it’s going on successfully.”

Ikenga further stated that the party had made the screening outcome publicly available at the state secretariat to enable aspirants verify their status and determine their next line of action.

The appeal process is expected to conclude on Wednesday, May 13, as the APC intensifies preparations for its primary elections in the coming days.

Among the disqualified aspirants who appeared before the Appeal Panel on Tuesday were serving members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including Victor Oko-Jumbo, Sokari Goodboy and Adolphus Timothy Oruibienimigha.