There is a looming mass defection of aspirants who lost out in the just concluded primary elections in Rivers State over alleged favouritism, and unnecessary disqualification.
The threat of defection is pronounced in the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which supervised the primary where the loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and those of Barr. Nyesom Wike battled for the tickets to the various elective positions.
The mere fact that the candidates of Wike emerged victorious at the primary, while those loyal to Fubara lost out has elicited strong reactions.
The party cleared 19 aspirants loyal to Wike, across the 13 federal constituencies, and disqualified four aspirants, including serving lawmakers loyal to Fubara.
The speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, For example, secured the Obio/ Akpor Federal Constituency ticket.
Likewise Blessing Amadi, representing Port Harcourt Federal Constituency, while Hart Cyril Godwin is poised to fly the APC flag for Bonny/Degema Federal Constituency.
Known Fubara allies that were disqualified include: John Azubuike Opara, Anderson Allison Igbiki, Awaji-Inombek Abiante and Boma Goodhead, a serving member representing Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru Federal Constituency.
One of the disqualified aspirants to the Rivers State House of Assembly, Comrade-Legborsi Sunday Yamaabana, president of Ogoni Youth Federation, has criticised the party’s screening committee for disqualifying aspirants loyal to Governor Fubara.
He alleged that the party cleared only one person per constituency without conducting proper primary elections. He stated that those selected had links to certain political godfathers rather than grassroots support.
But the APC has dismissed allegations that only aspirants loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, were favoured during the screening of House of Assembly aspirants, while those loyal to Governor Fubara were denied clearance.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, told journalists at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt that it was misleading to conclude that Wike dictated the primary’s outcome, noting that the FCT minister is not a member of the APC and played no role in the screening exercise.
“The FCT minister is not a member of our party, and bringing him into what we are doing in our party is not fair. “So, bringing in to say whether people who were cleared or uncleared belong to his own group or team, it does not fall in here properly,” he stated.
