APC postpones House of Reps primaries as confusion trails Fubara’s clearance

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed its House of Representatives primaries, earlier scheduled for Friday, to Saturday, amid growing uncertainty over the clearance of aspirants across the country.

The postponement was conveyed in a statement issued late Thursday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.

Despite the adjustment, confusion has continued to trail the exercise as several aspirants for various elective positions have complained that the party has yet to release the final list of cleared aspirants in constituencies where consensus arrangements collapsed.

The delay has fueled speculation over possible disqualifications and internal manoeuvring ahead of the primaries.

Some aspirants described the situation as unusual and capable of creating uncertainty within the party at a critical stage of preparations for the 2027 elections.

Meanwhile, controversy has intensified over whether Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers State governor, has been cleared to participate in the APC governorship primary slated for May 21.

While reports in some quarters claimed that the Rivers State governor had been quietly cleared for the contest, top APC officials who spoke to BusinessDay on Thursday night said there were strong moves within the party to deny him a return ticket.

A senior party official alleged that the recent meeting between Nyesom Wike and APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, was linked to efforts to frustrate Fubara’s second-term ambition.

“The APC leadership is scheming not to grant Fubara a second-term ticket. This is connected to his prolonged political feud with Wike, which is already public knowledge,” the source said.

However, another party source maintained that the APC leadership had resolved not to deny any first-term governor seeking re-election the opportunity to contest.

“What I can confirm is that the governor has been cleared and will participate in the primary,” the source added.

Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC following his prolonged political rift with Wike over the control of political structures and governance in Rivers State.

Speaking after the governor’s defection, Yilwatda had stated that if Fubara secures the APC governorship ticket, the party would support his re-election bid in 2027.