The All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primaries ahead of the 2027 elections have triggered a major internal crisis, with at least 26 serving lawmakers losing their return tickets.
Among those affected were Iduma Igariwey of Ebonyi State, Awaji-Inombek Abiante of Rivers State, Anderson Allison of Rivers State and Boma Goodhead of Rivers State.
Other affected aspirants included Adefisoye Tajudeen, Olusegun Ategbole, Seun Ajongbolo, Arowole Ayodeji, Morufu Ibrahim, Oseni Oyeniyi, Olaleye Adedipe, Bashir Bello, Sanni Ogembe and retired Air Commodore, John Opara.
Rivers APC Tension Deepens
The disqualification of Rivers lawmakers has heightened tension in the state APC, which is already split between loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and those aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The party also disqualified serving senator, Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, who represents Rivers West Senatorial District and served as deputy governor under Wike.
Others disqualified were former presidential aspirant, Tein Jackrich; Director of Energy Security in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree; and former Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo.
Party insiders who spoke with Punch linked the disqualifications to the political struggle between the Wike and Fubara camps ahead of 2027.
The APC, however, cleared some figures widely seen as Wike’s allies, including former PDP state chairman, Felix Obuah, and Senator Allwell Onyesoh.
The Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, said the list had been approved by the party’s national secretariat and advised members “to take note and comply accordingly.”
Some party loyalists in Rivers accused the leadership of using the screening process to settle political scores.
“The screening process is being used to settle political scores ahead of 2027. It is no longer about competence or popularity,” a party source alleged.