The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied the appeal of 16 House of Assembly aspirants said to be loyal to Siminalayi Fubara, as the party held its primaries on Wednesday.
The aspirants were, on Monday, May 11, 2026, disqualified from participating in the House of Assembly primaries, alongside 49 others also said to be loyal to Fubara, by the party’s Muraina Ajibola‑led Screening Committee.
The committee had cleared 33 other aspirants said to be loyal to Nyesom Wike (Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT), while urging the disqualified 65 aspirants, among them Victor Oko Jumbo and Chijioke Ihunwo, to proceed to appeal.
Sixteen of the 65, notably Oko Jumbo, appealed their disqualification.
A party release on Tuesday, May 19, showed the aspirants’ appeal failed, while the 33 aspirants initially cleared were retained for the primaries.
Chibike Ikenga, APC publicity secretary, said the release was to “convey to the aspirants, party members and the public the final list of cleared and uncleared aspirants for the House of Assembly Primary Election.”
Aspirants cleared to run for the Assembly primaries include: Maol Dumle, Major M. Jack, Nwabochi Frankline, Ofiks K. Christopher, Enemi Alabo George, Tonye Smart Adoki, Tekenari W. Granville, Azeru Opara, Igwe Obey Aforji, Opuende Lolo Isaiah and Ukalikpe Napoleon.
Others are: Hope Ugwumadu, Kenneth Minimah, Justina Aniton Okorji, Onyema Rex Nwankwo, Jumbo Soparagha, Wami Solomon, Gift Esede Ali, Ejekwu Chisa Nathan, Peter E. Abbey, Loolo Bulabari Henrietta, Barida Alice Samuel, Ohanuna Bright N., Kue Yeghene, Nwankwo Chimezie C., Emeji Gloria Chika, Ejekwu Ezebunwo Leslie, Okpokipoy Peters, Arnold O. Davids, Gerald C. Oforji, Amadi Promise Amadi, Opuene Thompson Atekebo and Amakri Awowari Orubibanugha.
Results trickling in on social media, not confirmed by the party, showed that Wike allies were largely winning the direct primaries at polling centres.
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