Party’s Screening Shockwave Signals Escalation in Rivers Political War
In a move that has sent tremors through the already volatile political terrain of Rivers State, the All Progressives Congress has disqualified four prominent loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara from contesting the House of Representatives primaries scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026.
The decision, contained in the party’s final list of cleared aspirants released on Friday in Port Harcourt, underscores what insiders describe as a calculated tightening of political space ahead of a high-stakes electoral cycle that is rapidly morphing into a proxy war for control of Rivers’ political machinery.
Disqualified from the contest are two serving members of the House of Representatives, Awaji-Inombek Abiante and Boma Goodhead, alongside retired Air Commodore John Opera and Hon. Anderson Igbiki. All four are widely regarded as aligned with Governor Fubara, whose fragile grip on the state’s political structure has been under sustained pressure from rival blocs.
A Surgical Political Exclusion
The exclusion of Abiante and Goodhead is particularly significant. Both lawmakers have maintained strong grassroots networks and are seen as vocal defenders of Fubara’s political interests at the national level.
Abiante, notably, had earlier demonstrated his political weight by purchasing a governorship nomination form for Fubara during the last election cycle, a move that cemented his status as one of the governor’s most visible allies.
Their disqualification is being interpreted within political circles as more than a routine screening outcome. Rather, it appears to be a strategic effort to weaken Fubara’s influence within federal legislative contests and, by extension, diminish his leverage ahead of broader political realignments.
A senior APC insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the move as “a necessary internal recalibration,” but opposition voices within the state have labelled it “a targeted purge dressed up as administrative procedure.”
21 Cleared as Amaewhule Emerges Central Figure
While four aspirants were struck off the list, 21 others were cleared to contest, including the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule.
Amaewhule’s inclusion is perhaps the most politically charged development within the list. He is vying for the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency seat, a move that pits him against entrenched political interests and positions him as a central actor in the unfolding struggle.
His ambition to replace Kingsley Chinda, the current Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, adds another layer of complexity to an already combustible contest.
Amaewhule has been at the forefront of the legislative-executive crisis that has gripped Rivers State in recent months. His alignment within the broader power matrix has often been read as being at odds with Fubara’s camp, making his clearance a potential signal of where the party’s internal sympathies lie.
Official Statement Masks Underlying Tensions
Confirming the development, the Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, issued a statement titled “Final List of Aspirants for the House of Representatives Primary Election for Saturday, 16th May, 2026.”
In the statement, Ikenga maintained a formal tone, emphasising procedural compliance rather than political intent.
“You are by this notice informed of the release of the final list of aspirants for the House of Representatives primary election of our great party, the APC, scheduled for 16th May, 2026 as released by the National Leadership of the Party,” the statement read.
“Aspirants are kindly advised to note and comply accordingly. This information must be taken seriously in view of the election as scheduled. Please, find attached, the list of aspirants who are cleared and, or not cleared.”
Yet, beneath the administrative language lies a decision that could reshape the political equilibrium in Rivers.
Rivers: A Theatre of Relentless Political Conflict
Rivers State has, over the past year, evolved into one of Nigeria’s most intense political battlegrounds. The rivalry between entrenched political structures and emergent power centres has produced a cycle of confrontation, institutional friction and shifting alliances.
Governor Fubara, once perceived as a political beneficiary of established power brokers, now finds himself navigating a complex web of opposition from within and outside his party.
The disqualification of his allies from the APC primaries suggests that the struggle is no longer confined to state-level institutions but has extended decisively into federal legislative contests.
Political analysts argue that control of National Assembly seats is critical, not only for legislative influence but also for shaping the narrative ahead of the next general election cycle.
“This is about more than House of Reps tickets,” said a Port Harcourt-based political analyst. “It is about dismantling or consolidating political structures that will determine who controls Rivers in the next phase.”
Implications for National Power Dynamics
Beyond Rivers, the development has broader implications for the APC’s internal cohesion and its strategy in politically sensitive states.
The party’s decision to sideline individuals linked to a sitting governor raises questions about internal democracy, factional dominance and the extent to which national leadership is willing to intervene in state-level disputes.
It also feeds into a growing narrative that candidate selection processes are increasingly being weaponised to settle political scores, rather than purely reflecting merit or electability.
For Fubara, the immediate consequence is a narrowing of his political options within the APC framework. For his opponents, it represents a tactical victory in a long-running contest for supremacy.
What Lies Ahead
As the primaries approach, the atmosphere in Rivers remains tense. The exclusion of key figures is likely to trigger further political manoeuvring, including potential legal challenges, defections or parallel mobilisation strategies.
There are also concerns about security, given the state’s history of politically linked unrest during high-stakes electoral periods.
What is clear is that the APC’s latest move has not resolved tensions. Instead, it has redrawn the battle lines.
In Rivers, the fight for political control has entered a new phase one defined not by open confrontation alone, but by strategic exclusion, institutional leverage and a relentless contest for dominance that shows no sign of abating.
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