The high-stakes political battlefield of Rivers State has witnessed yet another explosive escalation in the ongoing cold war between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. In a move that has sent shockwaves through the local political landscape and effectively redrawn the battle lines for the 2027 general elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly Screening Committee has disqualified 32 aspirants known to be fiercely loyal to the sitting governor. This sweeping purge contrasts sharply with the fortunes of the Wike camp, which saw all 29 of its serving assembly members cleared to contest the upcoming party primaries.
The screening exercise, which took place over a tense forty-eight-hour window at the APC State Secretariat in Port Harcourt, was designed to vet the credentials and loyalty of those seeking to fly the party’s flag in the next legislative cycle. However, the outcome of the process has laid bare the deep-seated internal divisions within the state’s political machinery. By effectively decapitating Fubara’s legislative support base within the APC structure, the committee has handed a significant tactical victory to the FCT Minister, further consolidating his grip on the party’s grassroots and legislative apparatus in Rivers State.
According to the official report released by the four-man screening committee, chaired by the Rt. Hon. Muraina Ajibola, a total of 98 aspirants were evaluated during the rigorous two-day period. The committee was tasked with verifying documentation, party standing, and adherence to the APC’s constitutional guidelines. While the disqualification of nearly one-third of the aspirants has drawn cries of foul play from the governor’s camp, the Ajibola-led committee maintained that its procedures were entirely transparent, fair, and intended to uphold the democratic ideals and discipline of the party.
The committee’s findings were categorical: the 29 serving members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who have remained steadfast in their loyalty to Nyesom Wike—led by the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol—successfully navigated the vetting process without a single hitch. These lawmakers, who have been at the center of the legislative impasse that has gripped the state for months, are now officially cleared to seek their party’s nomination for re-election. This clean sweep ensures that Wike retains a formidable and experienced legislative "army" as the state hurtles toward the next election cycle.
In a notable twist that caught many political observers off guard, the committee’s report also highlighted a significant career move by the current Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule. Rather than seeking a return to the state legislature, Amaewhule has reportedly moved to pick up a nomination form for the Federal House of Representatives. This shift suggests a strategic promotion within the Wike faction, potentially opening up the speakership position for new leadership in 2027 while moving a key ally into the federal legislative sphere in Abuja.
The disqualification of the 32 pro-Fubara aspirants serves as a severe blow to the governor’s efforts to build a legislative bloc that could counter Wike’s influence. Since the relationship between the former mentor and his protégé disintegrated shortly after the 2023 elections, Fubara has struggled to gain control over the state’s political structures, many of which remain under the heavy influence of the FCT Minister. The mass rejection of his preferred candidates suggests that the APC’s internal vetting mechanisms in the state are firmly aligned with the interests of the Wike-led faction.
While the Ajibola committee described the exercise as largely peaceful and orderly, the report did not shy away from documenting specific incidents of friction that occurred during the proceedings. One such incident involved Mr. Victor Oko-Jumbo, a figure who has been a vocal participant in the state’s legislative disputes. According to the committee, Oko-Jumbo arrived at the screening venue accompanied by a large and imposing security detail. This led to a brief but heated disagreement with police officers stationed at the secretariat, who were tasked with maintaining a strictly controlled environment. Security officials reportedly insisted that the presence of such a large detail was unnecessary and potentially intimidatory, leading to a standoff that was eventually resolved before the screening could proceed.
Even more sensational was the committee’s claim regarding an alleged attempt at electoral malpractice. The report stated that one unnamed aspirant was handed over to the police for questioning after allegedly attempting to bribe committee members during the screening process. The committee emphasized its commitment to integrity, stating that such actions were an affront to the party’s values and would not be tolerated under any circumstances. This incident has added a layer of scandal to an already volatile political situation, providing the committee with further justification for its "rigorous" approach to candidate selection.
The fallout from this screening exercise is expected to be immense. For Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the disqualification of his loyalists represents a narrowing of his options within the APC. It forces a difficult choice: either continue to fight for a foothold within a party structure that appears hostile to his interests or seek a different political vehicle entirely as 2027 approaches. Rumors have long circulated about a potential mass defection of Fubara’s supporters to a different platform, and the results of this screening may well serve as the catalyst for such a move.
On the other hand, for Nyesom Wike, the outcome is a validation of his continued relevance and power in Rivers State politics. Despite his move to Abuja to serve in the federal cabinet, he has clearly demonstrated that his "home base" remains secure. By ensuring that his loyalists are the only viable options for the APC in the state assembly, he has effectively guaranteed that any future legislative agenda in Rivers State will likely have to pass through his gatekeepers.
The political friction between these two titans has evolved from a personal disagreement into a full-scale institutional war. The Rivers State House of Assembly has already been the site of multiple legal battles, physical altercations, and a notorious demolition of its complex. This latest screening exercise simply moves the conflict into the realm of electoral eligibility. By using the screening process to filter out the opposition, the APC leadership in the state—widely seen as pro-Wike—is attempting to win the 2027 battle before a single vote is cast at the general election.
As the news of the disqualifications spread across Port Harcourt on Monday, supporters of the governor expressed outrage, labeling the process a "charade" and a "predetermined script." They argued that the committee’s claims of transparency were a smokescreen for a systematic purge of anyone not willing to swear total fealty to the FCT Minister. Conversely, Wike’s supporters celebrated the results as a triumph of party discipline and a deserved reward for those who have remained loyal to the "leader" during the turbulent transitions of the past year.
The 2027 general elections are still some time away, but in Rivers State, the campaign is already in high gear. The disqualification of these 32 aspirants has solidified the internal divisions that have plagued the state, creating a clear "us versus them" dynamic that will dominate the political discourse for months to come. With the legislative structure now heavily weighted in favor of one faction, the focus will likely shift to the courts, as the disqualified aspirants seek to challenge the committee’s findings and reclaim their right to contest.
For now, the APC Secretariat in Port Harcourt remains a symbol of the shifting power dynamics in the Niger Delta's most influential state. As the screening results are formalized, the political weight of Rivers State continues to rest on the shoulders of Nyesom Wike, while Governor Siminalayi Fubara finds himself increasingly isolated within the very party structure he needs to sustain his administration. The road to 2027 has been paved with the disqualifications of dozens of aspirants, and the journey is only just beginning.
