The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified four loyalists of Siminalayi Fubara from participating in the party’s House of Representatives primaries scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, deepening political tensions within Rivers State.
The disqualification was contained in the party’s final list of aspirants released on Friday by the APC leadership.
Among those barred from contesting are serving members of the House of Representatives, Awaji-Inombek Abiante and Boma Goodhead, both known allies of Governor Fubara.
Abiante, a prominent Rivers politician, had reportedly obtained a governorship nomination form on behalf of Governor Fubara amid ongoing political realignments in the state.
Also disqualified were retired Air Commodore John Opera and Hon. Anderson Igbiki.
Meanwhile, 21 aspirants were cleared by the party to participate in the primaries, including the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule.
Amaewhule, who is contesting for the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency seat, is seeking to replace the current Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda.
Confirming the development in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday, Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, said the list was approved and released by the national leadership of the party.
The statement, titled “Final List of Aspirants for the House of Representatives Primary Election for Saturday, 16th May, 2026,” urged all aspirants to comply with the party’s decision ahead of the exercise.
“You are by this notice informed of the release of the final list of aspirants for the House of Representatives primary election of our great party — the APC — scheduled for 16th May, 2026, as released by the National Leadership of the Party,” the statement read in part.
The latest move is expected to further intensify the political rivalry within the Rivers APC, particularly between factions aligned with Governor Fubara and other influential figures in the state’s political structure.
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