Uncertainty has continued to grow within the political camp of Siminalayi Fubara ahead of the forthcoming governorship and House of Assembly primary elections of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.
The party fixed Wednesday, May 20, for its House of Assembly primaries, while the governorship primary is expected to take place on Thursday, May 21.
Governor Fubara is one of four aspirants screened for the APC governorship ticket alongside Ovunda Kingsley Chinda, Alabo Dakorinama George-Kelly, and Tonye Cole. However, members of the governor’s camp are reportedly anxious over whether he will eventually be cleared to participate in the contest.
Questions have continued to trail Fubara’s appearance before the party’s screening panel in Abuja, reportedly led by the APC national leadership. Reports claimed the governor left the venue visibly unsettled and declined to speak with journalists after the exercise.
Several loyalists of the governor, including Chijoke Ihunwo and Victor Oko-Jumbo, were among the 65 aspirants screened for the State House of Assembly primaries, but many were not cleared by the committee.
About 19 of the affected aspirants later appealed the decision before a panel headed by Abdul Mahmud. The committee reportedly spent days reviewing complaints before submitting its report to the party’s National Working Committee.
Sources within the party disclosed that Fubara’s supporters are still awaiting the outcome of the appeal process to determine whether they will participate in the primaries. However, insiders suggested that many of the disqualified aspirants may not be reinstated because they allegedly failed to provide required documents before the panel concluded its sitting.
A party source also hinted that Governor Fubara could still be cleared for the governorship primary in order to ease political tension, though the source argued that the governor lacks sufficient control of the party structure in the state to secure victory.
According to insiders, the governorship contest is expected to favour candidates aligned with the political bloc linked to Nyesom Wike, particularly Chinda and George-Kelly.
The source further claimed that Tonye Cole’s perceived ties to former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi may weaken his chances in the APC race.
The influential Rainbow Coalition, believed to be loyal to Wike, reportedly maintained dominance during previous APC primary elections in the state, producing most of the successful candidates for House of Representatives and Senate positions.
Among those who emerged as consensus senatorial candidates were Felix Obuah for Rivers West, Allwell Onyesoh for Rivers East, and Osarosaka Ebenezer for Rivers Southeast. Several other aspirants, including Senator Ipalibo Banigo, Ojukaiye Flag-Amachree, Tein Jack-Rich, Tammy Danagogo, and Barry Mwara, were reportedly disqualified from the contest.