Fubara’s Assembly list cleared at APC screening 

…Wike’s may also sail through 

The All Progressives Congress Screening Committee for Rivers State has reportedly cleared 32 House of Assembly aspirants, who are said to be loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The screening—which took place at the party’s state secretariat along Aba Expressway, Port Harcourt, on Saturday—witnessed a heavy police presence.

Social media chatter on Friday claimed that Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), intended to “use the police to intimidate and harass aspirants loyal to Fubara from participating in the screening exercise.”

The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) who led the policemen on Saturday said his team was deployed to ensure security at the venue, not to intimidate or harass aspirants.

At the end of the screening, 32 Fubara allies, among them Chijioke Ihunwo (former Obio/Akpor council Chairman) and Victor Oko Jumbo (currently representing Bonny at the State Assembly), were reportedly cleared to participate in the primaries.

Other aspirants, said to be loyal to Wike—including some of the 27 Assembly members who defected to the APC from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)—were also reportedly screened.

Analysts say the stage is now set for ‘a showdown between Fubara’s and Wike’s camps at the primaries.

Also on Saturday, Dax Alabo George and Kingsley Chinda (Minority Leader of the House of Representatives), both known Wike allies, were screened alongside Tonye Cole for the governorship primary.

Governor Fubara is scheduled to be screened today (Sunday) at the governorship screening in Abuja.

The 32 Fubara allies screened for the State House of Assembly primaries include Ihunwo (Obio/Akpor I), Oko Jumbo (Bonny), Sokari Goodboy Sokari (Ahoada West), Orubienimigha Adolphus Timothy (Opobo/Nkoro), Tonye Briggs Oniyide (Akuku-Toru I), Samuel Reginald Sokari (Akuku-Toru II), Chime Egwuma Ezebalike (Ahoada East II), Emejim Wisdom Chiemele (Ahoada East I), Vincent Reuben Obu (Abua/Odual), Amua Isioma Henry (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni I), Nnwoziri Chukwuemeka Bishop Best (Ikwerre), Fugbara Goodluck Ohaka (Emohua), Kpeden Kenneth (Gokana), Bobby Frank Abayomi (Port Harcourt I), Weche Ndubuisi Raymond (Port Harcourt III), Onyema Loveday Hechiaru (Omuma), and Berebupakabo Isaac Sekibo (Ogu/Bolo).

Others among the Fubara group include Luke Mobene Eneriene (Andoni), Bellor Kingsley Waite (Eleme), Oba Fred Ajubolaka (Okrika), Claudius Princewill (Asari Toru I), Cline Tamunodiepriye Abdurrazaq (Port Harcourt II), Chigozie Emem (Etche II), Morris Prince Lelesi (Khana I), Jolly Benjamin Ngbor (Tai), Prince Achor (Obio/Akpor II), Tyger Enemeniya Dumo (Degema), Ideye Granville (Asari Toru II), Gift Okere (Oyigbo), Nwankwoala Paul (Etche I), Lezina Ngbor (Khana II), and Chris Okey Ochije (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni II).