The All Progressives Congress has released its final list of 36 cleared aspirants to contest the Rivers State House of Assembly primaries, a move that conspicuously leaves out any candidate with known loyalties to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The list, made public by the party, signals a clear boundary in the internal politics of Rivers State, where the APC has struggled to maintain unity following Fubara's defection to the Peoples Democratic Party in 2022. The governor's shift to the PDP effectively split the opposition party in the state, with his faction gaining control of state resources and institutions.
By excluding Fubara-aligned candidates from the assembly primaries, the APC appears to be consolidating around a particular faction ahead of the poll. The move reflects deeper tensions within the party structure in Rivers, where multiple power centers have competed for dominance since Fubara's departure.
The 36 aspirants cleared for the primaries will contest in various constituencies across the state. The party has not publicly explained the criteria used to exclude other aspirants, though sources suggest the vetting process examined candidates' relationships with competing political interests in the state.
The assembly election remains crucial for both parties. Control of the Rivers State House of Assembly would give the governing PDP or the opposition APC significant power over state finances, impeachment threats, and the legislative direction of the state government. With Fubara firmly in control of the state apparatus through the PDP, the APC faces an uphill battle to recapture lost ground.
The party's decision to field a unified list without internal Fubara representation may be an attempt to project strength and consistency ahead of campaigning. However, it also risks further alienating the significant faction of Rivers politicians who have thrown their support behind the governor. Political analysts in the state say the primary elections will test whether the APC can rebuild momentum after losing the 2023 governorship race to Fubara's PDP by a wide margin.
The primaries are expected to take place in the coming weeks, with the winners advancing to the general election. Party officials have not announced a specific date, though sources close to the APC leadership indicated the timetable would be set by the national secretariat in Abuja.
