The Rivers State House of Assembly Screening Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has given 10 reasons why it disqualified 56 aspirants from participating in the party’s forthcoming primary election.
The Committee, chaired by Muraine Ajibola, cleared only 33 aspirants out of the 98 persons who presented themselves for the screening held from May 9th to 10th.
In the report dated May 10, the committee stated that the uncleared aspirants failed to meet the requirements of the screening exercise.
Most of the disqualified aspirants were reportedly sponsored by the camps of State Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara and Tonye Cole, while the qualified ones were from the ‘Rainbow Coalition’ family.
The document was signed by Ajibola; the committee’s Secretary, Ishake Yamawe, and two members, Danjuma Samuel and Aisha Adamu.
Notable members of Fubara’s camp disqualified after the screening included the former local government chairman of Obio-Akpor, Chijoke Ihunwo, and two expelled members of the House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo and Sokari Goodboy, among others.
The committee listed reasons for the ‘non-clearance’ of the aspirants as: ‘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; and conflicting dates of birth.’
Others included: ‘Failure to confirm payment of membership dues by nominators, irregular party membership numbers of nominators, inconsistencies in names appearing on submitted documents, insufficient nominators (falling short of three per ward), and invalid affidavits that failed to disclose material particulars relating to NECO certificates.’
Among those cleared by the four-man committee were all 29 serving members of the State House of Assembly, led by the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol.
The Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, was screened by another committee in Abuja for the House of Representatives primary election of the APC.
In its report, the committee stated it screened 98 aspirants during the exercise and commended the participants’ comportment.
The committee noted it was mandated to verify the credentials, qualifications, and eligibility of aspirants in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the party constitution, the Electoral Act, and APC guidelines.
It added that it was required to ascertain the authenticity of submitted documents and provide a comprehensive report to the appropriate party organ.
According to the report, the committee adopted a transparent, orderly, and participatory procedure designed to ensure fairness to all aspirants.
The panel said: ‘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,’ it added.
The committee also noted the exercise was largely peaceful, explaining that all aspirants conducted themselves with maturity, except for ‘Mr. Victor Oko-Jumbo, who insisted on entering the screening venue with a retinue of security aides, resulting in a disagreement with officers of the Nigeria Police Force on duty.’
The report added: ‘The security agents successfully put the situation under control and the screening continued smoothly.’
The committee further stated it rejected a bribery attempt by one of the aspirants, adding that the suspect was handed over to the police.
The report said: ‘In the course of the Committee’s sitting, an aspirant approached the Committee and handed over an envelope containing money together with his passport photograph in an attempt to improperly influence the screening process. The incident was reported to the police.’
The report added that the committee received petitions against some aspirants from concerned persons.
The report said: ‘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: Maol Dumle (serving Deputy Speaker), Major Jack (serving House Leader), Enemi Alabo George (serving House Spokesman),’ among 30 others.
‘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,’ the report concluded.