APC disqualifies Banigo, ex-Minister, clears Wike’s Senate list

… party on ground, stronger ahead 2027 elections – Owokoniran

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified Ipalibo Harry Banigo, who currently represents Rivers West Senatorial District, from participating in its senatorial primaries scheduled for Monday, May 18, 2026.

Others disqualified from the primaries are Tammy Danagogo (former minister of sports and former secretary to the Rivers State Government), Tein Jack‑Rich (businessman and founder of Belemaoil), and Ojukaye Flag Amachree.

The party, however, cleared Felix Obuah (former Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency, RIWAMA), Allwell Onyesoh (currently representing Rivers East), and others to run in the primaries, according to a release made available by Chibike Ikenga, its state publicity secretary.

APC’s list of aspirants for the senatorial primaries showed that Banigo (Rivers West) and others were disqualified, while ObuahOnyesoh were cleared.

APC’s list of aspirants for the senatorial primaries showed that Banigo, Danagogo, Jack‑Rich, and Amachree— all from Rivers West— were disqualified, while Obuah (Rivers West), Onyesoh (Rivers East), Barry Balera Mwara (Rivers South‑East), and Osarosaka Ebenezer (Rivers South‑East) were cleared.

Banigo’s and others’ disqualification followed the pattern allegedly set in the earlier House of Assembly and House of Representatives primaries, where known allies of Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were cleared to run while aspirants said to be loyal to Siminalayi Fubara were disqualified.

Awa Josiah, a Port Harcourt–based journalist, reported: “Dr Ipalibo Banigo, the senator representing Rivers West in the National Assembly, arrived in her hometown for the APC senatorial primaries, only to find that she had been disqualified.”

She added, “I think political parties should have a way of communicating with aspirants who are not cleared during the screening process.”

Her comments highlight the outrage that trailed the disqualification of aspirants believed to be sympathetic to Fubara by the APC screening committees.

Wahab Owokoniran, chairman of APC’s seven‑man primary election committee, however, said the party is on the ground and stronger ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Owokoniran, while declaring 13 aspirants, winners of the House of Representatives primary election in the state, said the exercise was conducted in a peaceful and free, fair atmosphere.

Martin Amaewhule, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, and 12 others, allegedly aligned with Wike, won APC tickets for the 2027 House of Representatives elections to represent the 13 federal constituencies in Rivers State.

Owokoniran commended party members for their peaceful conduct, while Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), monitored the collation process at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt.

The APC House of Representatives candidates, as announced by the party, are Martin Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor), Dumnamene Deekor (Gokana/Khana), Precious Igwe (Port Harcourt I), Blessing Amadi (Port Harcourt II), and Hart Cyril Godwin (Bonny/Degema).

Others are Felix Nwaeke (Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo), Isobo Jack (Akuku‑Toru/Asari‑Toru), Linda Somiari‑Steward (Okrika/Ogu/Bolo), Solomon Bob (Abua/Odual/Ahoada‑East), Victor Obuzor (Ahoada‑West/Ogba‑Egbema‑Ndoni), Frederick Apiafi (Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro), Ozuzum Nwamaka (Etche/Omuma), and Onyeozu Joy Nyebuchi (Ikwerre/Emohua).

While aspirants believed to be loyal to Fubara—including three serving House of Representatives members, Anderson Allison, Awaji‑Inombek Abiante, and Boma Goodhead—were disqualified from participating in the primaries, others were cleared to run.