The Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly Screening Appeal Committee, presided over by Abdul Mahmud, has confirmed that candidates associated with Siminalayi Fubara, the state governor, have been disqualified.
According to reports, 33 aspirants out of 98 who participated in the screening exercise for Rivers assembly on Saturday were cleared while 65 were disqualified.
The panel further confirmed that the 65 disqualified aspirants have been identified as Fubara’s loyalists.
According to the committee’s May 10 report, the uncleared candidates did not fulfil the conditions of the screening process.
Following the screening, prominent members of Fubara’s camp were disqualified, including two expelled members of the House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo and Sokari Goodboy, as well as Chijoke Ihunwo, the former chairman of the Obio-Akpor local government.
The committee listed reasons for the “non-clearance” of the aspirants as: “Nominations by persons who are not financially up-to-date members of the Party, contrary to Article 9.3 of the Party Constitution; inducement and attempted bribery of committee members; submission of unsworn affidavits; failure to present voters’ cards; failure to present party membership slips or cards; and conflicting dates of birth.”
Others included: “Failure to confirm payment of membership dues by nominators, irregular party membership numbers of nominators, inconsistencies in names appearing on submitted documents, insufficient nominators (falling short of three per ward), and invalid affidavits that failed to disclose material particulars relating to NECO certificates.”
It further stated that it was necessary to verify the legitimacy of supplied documents and make a thorough report to the relevant party organ.
Additionally, the panel said that it rejected one of the candidates’ attempts at bribery and that the suspect had been turned over to the authorities.
