The All Progressives Congress has disqualified four loyalists of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, from participating in the party’s House of Representatives primaries scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026.
The development marks another major twist in the political crisis in Rivers State and further exposes the widening divide between supporters of Fubara and allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
According to the final list of aspirants released by the APC and made available to journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday, four aspirants were not cleared for the primaries.
Among those disqualified are serving members of the House of Representatives, Awaji-Inombek Abiante and Boma Goodhead, both regarded as strong allies of Governor Fubara.
Abiante has remained one of the prominent political figures backing the governor and was reportedly among stakeholders who purchased the governorship nomination form for Fubara during the build-up to the elections.
The other aspirants disqualified by the party are retired Air Commodore John Opuene and Hon. Anderson Igbiki.
However, the APC cleared 21 aspirants to participate in the primaries, including Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule.
Amaewhule, a key figure in the pro-Wike political bloc in Rivers State, is seeking to represent the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. His ambition positions him against the current Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda.
The APC State Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Port Harcourt.
The statement, titled “Final List of Aspirants for the House of Representatives Primary Election for Saturday, 16th May, 2026,” said the list was approved by the national leadership of the party.
“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.
“Aspirants are kindly advised to note and comply accordingly. This information must be taken seriously in view of the election as scheduled.”
The latest development is expected to intensify political tensions within Rivers APC ahead of the primaries and the broader realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Rivers politics has remained heated since the fallout between Fubara and Wike, his former political ally and predecessor. The crisis has triggered divisions within the State House of Assembly, legal disputes, impeachment threats, and fierce battles for control of political structures across the state.
Political observers believe the exclusion of some pro-Fubara figures from the APC primaries could significantly influence political alignments ahead of the next electoral cycle.
