The All Progressives Congress (APC) bloc of the Rainbow Coalition, led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, has cleared the primary elections conducted in the 13 federal constituencies in Rivers State.

Prominent among the victorious members of the coalition was the State House of Assembly Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, who was elected the candidate of the APC for the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency.

Before the primary election, the APC disqualified four aspirants, including three serving members of the House of Representatives, and cleared 20 others for the contest.

The three serving members from Rivers, who were disqualified by the APC and lost their chances of returning to the Green Chamber were Awaji-Inombek Abiante, Boma Goodhead, and Anderson Allison Igbiki.

The Returning Officer for the State APC House of Representatives Primary Election Committee and Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council, Federal University of Transportation (FUT), Daura, Katsina State, Wahab Owokoniran, declared the results of the primary election at the APC Secretariat in Port Harcourt at the weekend.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Johnson Sinikiem, and other members of the commission monitored the result declaration.

In some of the constituencies, the returning officer disclosed that two aspirants contested the poll, while in other areas, sole aspirants stood in for the election.

For instance, in the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Amaewhule was the only aspirant whose election was affirmed by the constituents.

Owokoniran said: “In this case, we only have one aspirant, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule. He scored 17,968 votes. Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, having satisfied the requirements of the APC constitution and guidelines and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner of the primary election and is returned elected as the party’s House of Representatives candidate for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, this day 16th of May, 2026.”

Also, in the Port Harcourt Federal Constituency, a sole aspirant, Igwe Precious, was declared the winner, having scored 5,885 votes.

In the Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, an incumbent member, Dumnamene Dekor, scored 17,073 votes to defeat his rival, Israel Ngbuelo, who got 1,220 votes, and was declared the winner.

Also, Cyril Hart scored 7,203 votes to defeat his rival, Philemon Tombodiea, who got 1,020 votes, for the Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency.

In the Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency, Felix Nweke, the only aspirant, scored 18,605 votes and was declared the winner.

In the Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency, Isobo Solomon scored 11,303 votes to defeat Luke Enerine, who got 954 votes.

In other results, Chukwuemele Obuzor, a sole aspirant for the Ahoada West/Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency, scored 15,626 votes to emerge as the APC candidate.

In the Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, a sole aspirant, Fredrick Apiafi, polled 8,550 votes to win the primary election, while in the Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency, Chibuzor Nwamaka scored 10,414 votes to clinch the ticket.

In the Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency, Joy Nyebuchi got 13,704 votes to win the party primary election against her opponent, Lawrence Ogbor, who scored 2,030 votes.

In the Port Harcourt Federal Constituency II, a sole aspirant, Blessing Amadi, scored 5,674 votes to win the ticket.

In other results, Linda Steward scored 12,247 votes to win the party primary poll for Okrika/Ogu/Bolo over her rival, Tekena Ikaki, who got 388 votes.

For the Abua/Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency, a sole aspirant, Solomon Bob, scored 16,079 votes and was declared the winner of the APC primary election.

Owokoniran said: “This is the final declaration. We have declared 13 out of 13 federal constituency results. We want to let the whole world know that the election was conducted in a very peaceful atmosphere.”

He said there was no rancour and infighting during the elections, contrary to the impression that Rivers was violent.

Owokoniran commended members of the party for conducting themselves peacefully and expressed the optimism that they would adopt a similar disposition in the forthcoming general elections.

He said the party would win the presidential election, the governorship, and all other polls in Rivers State come 2027. (The Nation)

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