Rivers APC Assembly appeal panel receives 19 petitions
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday, visited the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, at his residence in Abuja. Although the details of the meeting are currently not available, it may not be unconnected to the political events unfolding in Rivers State.
 
Recall that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s loyalists aspiring for the Rivers State House of Assembly were disqualified by the screening committee. The development signalled the renewal of the face-off between Fubara and Wike, his predecessor.
   
There are speculations that the governor may also be disqualified from pursuing his re-election under the APC. Recall that Wike, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but a member of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, had vowed that Fubara would not return.
 
Meanwhile, the Rivers State APC House of Assembly Screening Appeal Committee, chaired by Abdul Mahmud, has confirmed the disqualification of aspirants linked to Fubara.
 
About 33 aspirants who participated in the screening exercise on Saturday were cleared, while 65 were disqualified. The 65 disqualified aspirants have been identified as Fubara’s loyalists.
 
Addressing journalists yesterday, the appeal committee chairman confirmed that 19 appeals have been submitted by some of the disqualified aspirants. He stated that the submission of appeals ends on Wednesday.
 
According to the committee, the final list of cleared aspirants will be released when the date for appeals elapses.

Meanwhile, the appeal panel set up by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for aspirants seeking to contest the Rivers State House of Assembly primaries has received 19 appeals from aggrieved contestants, as the party moves to conclude its internal screening process ahead of the primaries.

Chairman of the APC Appeal Panel for Rivers State House of Assembly aspirants, Abdul Mahmud, disclosed that the panel had so far received 19 appeals from aspirants dissatisfied with the outcome of the screening exercise conducted by the party.

Mahmud stated that the appeal process commenced on Tuesday and would officially close on Wednesday, May 13, after which the panel would review and determine the petitions submitted by the affected aspirants.