The All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives Primary Election Committee in Rivers State has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of party members during the primaries, noting that the exercise was largely peaceful.
Held on Saturday across the 23 local government areas of the state, the primaries produced 13 candidates for the federal constituencies ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wahab Owokoniran, Chairman of the committee and Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Transportation, remarked that he was pleasantly surprised by the absence of violence, given the political tensions often associated with Rivers State. He noted that aspirants who met the requirements of the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines emerged as winners.
Owokoniran announced the results at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt on Saturday night, revealing that some constituencies had only one aspirant while others witnessed contests between two candidates. He expressed optimism that party members would maintain the same level of discipline and unity during the general elections and voiced confidence in the APC’s prospects of winning Rivers State in 2027.
Chibike Ikenga, the party’s State Publicity Secretary, also described the primaries as peaceful and successful. He urged victorious aspirants to remain humble and focused, while offering words of encouragement to those who did not succeed. Ikenga emphasized that the party has mechanisms to unite members and rally support for candidates to defeat the opposition in the general election.
Among the winners declared were Speaker Martin Amaewhule for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Precious Igwe for Port Harcourt I, Blessing Amadi for Port Harcourt II, Dunamene Deekor for Gokana/Khana, Felix Nwaeke for Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo, Isobo Solomon for Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru, and Linda Somiari-Steward for Okrika/Ogu/Bolo. Other successful aspirants included Solomon Bob for Obua/Odual/Ahoada East, Victor Obuzor for Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, Frederick Apiafi for Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro, Ozuzum Nwamaka for Etche/Omuma, Cyril Hart for Bonny/Degema, and Onyeozu Joy Nyebuchi for Ikwerre/Emohua.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, including Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner Dr. Johnson Sinikiem, were present at the party secretariat during the announcement. The primaries followed the disqualification of four aspirants alleged to be loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, including serving House of Representatives members Awaji Inombek Abiante and Boma Goodhead, as well as retired Air Commodore John Opera and Anderson Igbiki.