The All Progressives Congress has screened out several high-profile aspirants linked to Governor Siminalayi Fubara while clearing loyalists of former Rivers governor and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the party’s senatorial primaries for the 2027 general elections.
Among those denied clearance was serving senator Ipalibo Banigo, who currently represents Rivers West Senatorial District in the Senate.
Others screened out by the party include former Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Tamunobaabo Danagogo, former local government chairman Ojukaye Amachree, and businessman and former presidential aspirant Jack-Rich Tein.
Danagogo had served as Secretary to the State Government under both Wike and the incumbent governor, Fubara.
However, the APC cleared several politicians believed to be aligned with Wike’s political structure in the state.
Among them is former Rivers PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah, who was cleared to contest for the Rivers West Senatorial District seat.
Also cleared were serving senator Allwell Onyesoh for Rivers East Senatorial District, alongside Barry Mwara and Osarosaka Ebenezer for Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
The development comes amid intensifying political rivalry between camps loyal to Wike and Governor Fubara ahead of the 2027 elections.
Earlier, the APC had also screened out four House of Representatives aspirants reportedly aligned with Fubara, including three serving lawmakers.
The affected lawmakers include Anderson Allison Igbiki, Awaji-Inombek Abiante and Boma Goodhead.
Meanwhile, several key allies of Wike secured APC tickets during the party’s House of Representatives primaries conducted across Rivers State on Saturday.
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, emerged unopposed as the APC candidate for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency I after polling 17,968 votes.
Other Wike loyalists who clinched APC tickets include Dumnamene Dekor, Solomon Bob, Blessing Amadi, Felix Nweke and Chukwuemele Obuzor.
