Political tensions have reached a fever pitch in Rivers State following the All Progressives Congress (APC) screening exercise for the forthcoming 2027 state House of Assembly primaries, an event that has starkly highlighted the deepening rift between factions loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The screening process saw a significant number of aspirants aligned with Governor Fubara disqualified, while those loyal to Minister Wike were largely cleared to participate.

The APC Screening Committee, led by Chairman Rt. Hon. Muraina Ajibola and three other members, disqualified a total of 65 aspirants, including prominent figures such as former factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, and former Obio/Akpor local government chairman, Chijioke Kemzunum Ihunwo. These individuals were predominantly core loyalists of Governor Fubara and were reportedly screened out for failing to meet the necessary eligibility requirements. Conversely, 33 aspirants loyal to Nyesom Wike, many of whom are incumbent members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, successfully cleared the screening. This group included Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, Major M. Jack, Nwabochi Frankline, Ofiks K. Christopher, and several others whose credentials were verified to meet the party’s criteria.

The outcome prompted sharp criticism and analysis from observers. Sam Amadi, former Chairman of the Nigeria Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC), remarked on Governor Fubara's apparent lack of political leverage in confronting his opponents. In a post on X, Amadi suggested that Fubara lacked the capacity to engage in the "political economy of election rigging" as his opponents allegedly could. Despite the perceived disadvantage, Amadi posited that "sometimes it is good to fight even if you cannot win. Fighting as a dignified person is enough reward." Governor Fubara himself remained tight-lipped about the developments, offering only a brief "No comment" to journalists after appearing before the APC governorship screening committee in Abuja.

Further complicating the situation, the validity of the screening report itself became a contentious issue. Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chubike Ikenga, circulated copies of the report confirming the disqualifications, which were subsequently obtained by Daily Trust. However, Hon. Tanko Yamowa, Secretary of the Screening Committee, disclaimed the circulated document, branding it "false, unauthorized," and asserting that the committee had only concluded its exercise less than 24 hours prior, with no official list yet released by the party. Yamowa urged the public to disregard the purported list as the "handiwork of mischief makers" aiming to create confusion. In response, Ikenga vehemently rejected Yamowa's claims as "fake news," maintaining the report's authenticity and advising disqualified aspirants to approach the party's appeal panel to challenge their disqualification.

This internal party strife underscores the intense political rivalry between Governor Fubara and Minister Wike, which is now explicitly playing out in the buildup to the 2027 general elections. Wike's political family is reportedly strategizing to unseat Governor Fubara, while the disqualification of Fubara's loyalists has raised concerns about the APC's electoral prospects. A supporter of Governor Fubara noted that by alienating key mobilizers, the APC "has just shot itself in the foot," potentially making it easier for opposition parties, such as the ADC and NDC, to capitalize on the internal disarray and win elections in Rivers State in 2027. The party's commitment to transparency and fairness is now under severe scrutiny amidst these developments.