Disqualified Rivers APC aspirants have challenged their non-clearance before the party’s appeal panel ahead of legislative primaries.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), State House of Assembly Screening Appeal Committee for Rivers State said it has received about 19 petitions from some assembly aspirants who were not cleared during the screening exercise held last week.

Chairman of the APC appeal panel, Abdul Mahmud disclosed this on Monday, while addressing journalists at the APC State secretariat along Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

It would be recalled that at the end of the screening exercise, of the 98 aspirants that declared interest for the primaries, 33 were cleared, while 65 aspirants were not cleared.

The report by the Screening Committee led by Dr Ajibola Muraina, explained that some aspirants were disqualified for contesting as candidates for seats in the State House of Assembly on the ground that their nominations were conducted or endorsed by persons who were not financially up to date members of the Party, contrary to the Constitution andestablished practices of the Party.

According to the report “The petitioners contended that a number of persons who participated in the nomination of the affected aspirants had failed to discharge their financialobligations to the Party as prescribed by the Party Constitution regulating membership rights and participation in Party affairs”.

The report in reliance on Article 9.3 of the Party Constitution, which

provides as follows “Only fully registered and financially up to date members of the Party shall have the right to vote and be voted for into any elective position, subject to the provisions made for such elections pursuant to this Constitution or other laws or regulations. Consequently, non-financial members shall not enjoy the above rights”.

Other reasons include “Inducement and attempted bribery of Committee members. Submission of unsworn affidavits. Failure to present voters cards. Failure to present Party membership slips or cards. Conflicting dates of birth. Failure to confirm payment of membership dues by nominators. Irregular party membership numbers of nominators. Inconsistencies in names appearing on submitted documents. Insufficient nominators with required numbers which fall short of the nominators per ward, and invalid affidavits that failed to disclose material particulars relating to NECO certificates.”

The cleared aspirants were mainly loyalists of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. And they include Maol Dumle, Major M. Jack, Nwabochi Frankline, Ofiks K. Christopher, Enemi Alabo George, Tonye Smart Adoki, Tekenari W. Granville, Azeru Opara, Igwe Obey Aforji, Opuende Lolo Isaiah, Ukalikpe Napoleon, Hope Ugwumaduand Kenneth Minimah.

Others cleared are Justina Aniton Okorji, Onyema Rex Nwankwo, Jumbo Soparagha, Wami Solomon, Gift Esede Ali, Ejekwu Chisa Nathan, Peter E. Abbey, Loolo Bulabari Henrietta, Barida Alice Samuel, Ohanuna Bright N. and Kue Yeghene.

Mr Nwankwo Chimezie C., Emeji Gloria Chika, Ejekwu Ezebunwo Leslie, Okpokipoy Peters, Arnold O. Davids, Gerald C Oforji, Amadi Promise Amadi, Opuene Thompson Atekebo and Amakri Awowari were also cleared.

The committee disclosed that the 65 other aspirants who are mostly loyalists of the State governor were not cleared because they did not satisfy the requirements of the screening exercise.

The disqualified aspirants include: Orubibanugha Timothy, Chime Eguma Ezebulike, Onyema Loveday Hechiaru, Tonye Briggs Oniyide, Chris Okey Ochije, Amua Isioma Henry, Sokari Goodboy Sokari, Chijioke Kemzunum Ihunwo, Ideye Granville, Nwoziri Chukwuemeka Bishop, Oba Fred Ajubulaka, Kpeden Kenneth, Chigozie Emem, Emeji Wisdom Chimele, Gift Okere, Jolly Benjamin Ngbor, Luke Mobene Eneriene, Nwankwoala Paul and Prince Lezina Ngbor.

Bobby Abayomi, Victor Oko-Jumbo, ReubenVincent Obu, Bellor Kingsley Waite, Morris Prince Lelesi, Claudius Princewill, Abdurazaq Tamunodiepriye, Fubara Goodluck Ohaka, Berebupakabo Isaac Sekibo, Prince Achor, Sokari Samuel Reginald, Wechie Ndubisi Raymon, Tyger Ebemeniya Dumo, Goodluck G. Menekpugi, Gbosi Mathew Bardagara, Tonye Garrick Tom-George and Prince Emukuighro Fubara were noted cleared.

Also not cleared includes, Tamunobaraiba George, Obunezi O. Clinton, Chinondu Wokocha, Akpanah Ibibo, Tamunokuro Alex Somiari, Opakirite Tonye Lawson, Nengisa Akuro-Egerton, Okere C. Chigozie, Igwe Princewill Ake, Karibi Bobmanuel, Chizobam Oba. Wokekoro, Tamunotonye Briggs, Victory Uchendu, Crowther Snithers, Green Tamunodienye, Ibima Firstbury Garrick, Atuzie Ntekachi Collins, Gogo-Ogute Isaiah, Murphy Deemua, Adele Justice Nkaniye, Williams Chimadhu, Epelle Sotonye , Awoala Daniel Wokoma, Tamunotonye Lolomari, Ejekwe Princewill Amos, Oduye Tom-West, Solomon Deesi Lenu, Legborsi Sunday Yamaabana and Macsunday Uziuke Ugwu.

Meanwhile at the party State secretariat yesterday, Chairman of the Appeal panel, Mahmud, an Abuja-based legal practitioner who said he is not a member of the party, explained that he was contacted by the national leadership of APC to carry out the assignment for justice and equity, saying that he is not partisan but works for the interest of the country.

Mahmud alongside other panellists said the committee’s responsibility is to review the issues raised against the affected aspirants by the screening committee.

He assured that the panel would carry out its assignment in a transparent manner. Mahmud explained that some aspirants had appeared before the panel with documents relating to why they were not cleared and were advised to provide the necessary documents before the end of the appeal process.

The chairman of the Appeal Panel also condemned the conduct of one of the aspirants, Tonye Tom-George, who was accused of attempting to bribe members of the APC screening committee during the screening exercise and other aspirants. He alleged that they were sending congratulatory text messages to him over his appointment to the panel.

Also speaking, State Publicity Secretary of APC, Chibuike Ikenga dismissed insinuation that the slide decision of the screening committee was influenced by the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Ikenga stressed “Firstly, let me address this issue, the FCT minister is not a member of the APC and bringing him into what we are doing in our party here is not fair. Although he had said severally that he will support the president. But what we are doing now has nothing to do personally with the president.

“So, bringing him in to say whether people who are cleared or unclear belong to his own group or team, it does not fall in here properly. What we know is that we have 98 members of our party who serve to represent us at the 32 constituencies in Rivers State. They must subject themselves to the party guidelines, party constitution, the electoral act and even the Nigerian constitution”, Ikenga added (AriseNews TV)

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