The Rivers State House of Assembly Screening Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared 33 aspirants to contest the party’s primaries ahead of the 2027 elections, with loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, dominating the list.

A copy of the report obtained by New Telegraph on Monday showed that 65 aspirants were not cleared out of the 98 screened by the APC committee.

Among those cleared were all 29 serving lawmakers loyal to Wike and led by the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Dumle Maol, as well as

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, was reportedly screened for a seat in the House of Representatives.

The four-member screening committee reportedly disqualified all 32 aspirants aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, including former factional Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo, and two other pro-Fubara lawmakers.

The report was signed by the Committee Chairman, Rt. Hon. Muraina Ajibola, Secretary, Hon. Ishaku Tanko Yamawo; Abdullah Hajia Aisha Abdullahi Adamu; and Hon. Danjuma Samuel.

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According to the committee, the screening process was conducted in a transparent and orderly manner in line with the democratic principles of the party.

“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 report stated.

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

The committee said the exercise was largely peaceful except for an incident involving Victor Oko-Jumbo.

“Mr Victor Oko-Jumbo 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 report added.

The committee also disclosed that one aspirant, identified as Tonye Garrick Tom-George, allegedly attempted to bribe members of the panel.

“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,” the report stated.

Among the pro-Fubara figures reportedly disqualified were Victor Oko-Jumbo, Sokari Goodboy, Timothy Orubibinugha, and Chijioke Ihunwo.

The committee said reasons for the disqualification of some aspirants included failure to present voter cards, invalid affidavits, irregular membership records, inconsistencies in submitted documents, and failure to meet nomination requirements.

Other grounds listed included “inducement and attempted bribery of committee members,” “submission of unsworn affidavits,” and “failure to confirm payment of membership dues by nominators.”

The committee concluded that the screening exercise was conducted in substantial compliance with the APC constitution and guidelines.