The All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Representatives Primary Election Committee in Rivers State has commended party members for maintaining peace and order during the conduct of the primaries.
The party’s primary elections were held on Saturday across the state’s 23 local government areas, with 13 candidates emerging for the various federal constituencies ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chairman of the Rivers State House of Representatives Primary Election Committee and Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council of the Federal University of Transportation, Wahab Owokoniran, said the exercise was conducted peacefully despite widespread perceptions of political violence in Rivers State.
“I myself I was disappointed that there was no violence,” he said.
Owokoniran noted that aspirants who satisfied the requirements of the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines successfully emerged as candidates.
Speaking while announcing the results at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt on Saturday night, he explained that some constituencies had only one aspirant, while others recorded contests between two aspirants.
He further expressed optimism that party members would sustain the same level of discipline and unity during the general elections.
Owokoniran also expressed confidence in the APC’s chances of winning Rivers State in 2027.
Also speaking, the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, described the primaries across the constituencies as peaceful and successful.
He urged the victorious aspirants to remain humble and focused ahead of the general election.
“For those who didn’t make it doesn’t mean they can’t make it tomorrow. It’s like that. Our party as well has a mechanism that we deploy to unite the party and talk to people whose nerves have been frayed, to calm the nerves and ensure that we rally round the candidates to defeat the opposition party in the general elections,” Ikenga stated.
Among those declared winners were Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency; Precious Igwe for Port Harcourt Federal Constituency I; and Blessing Amadi for Port Harcourt Federal Constituency II.
Others include serving member of the House of Representatives, Dunamene Deekor, for Gokana/Khana Federal Constituency; Felix Nwaeke for Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency; Isobo Solomon for Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency; and serving member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Linda Somiari-Steward, for Okrika/Ogu/Bolo Federal Constituency.
Also elected were serving federal lawmakers Solomon Bob for Obua/Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency and Victor Obuzor for Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Federal Constituency.
Frederick Apiafi emerged as the party’s candidate for Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency; Ozuzum Nwamaka for Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency; Cyril Hart for Bonny/Degema Federal Constituency; and Onyeozu Joy Nyebuchi for Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, including the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Johnson Sinikiem, were present at the party secretariat during the announcement of the results.
The primaries followed the earlier disqualification of four aspirants alleged to be loyalists of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Those disqualified included serving members of the House of Representatives, Awaji Inombek Abiante and Boma Goodhead.
Others affected were retired Air Commodore John Opera and Anderson Igbiki.