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Fresh tension has gripped the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress as aspirants seeking tickets for the State House of Assembly await the outcome of appeals submitted after the party’s controversial screening exercise. The APC Assembly Screening Appeal Committee, chaired by Abdul Mahmud, concluded its two-day sitting on Wednesday at the party secretariat in Port Harcourt. 
The screening exercise has generated major controversy after only 33 out of 98 aspirants were cleared to participate in the primaries, while 65 others were disqualified. Several affected aspirants alleged irregularities, bias, and attempts to sideline certain political blocs within the party, particularly supporters believed to be loyal to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. 
According to Abdul Mahmud, the appeal committee received multiple petitions from aggrieved aspirants and reviewed cases primarily based on documentary evidence. He explained that some aspirants were given opportunities to provide missing documents or correct discrepancies identified during the screening process before the panel concluded its assignment. 
Speaking after the sitting ended, Rivers APC spokesperson Chibuike Ikenga confirmed that the panel had completed its work and said the committee’s findings would be made public in due course. Some aspirants who appeared before the panel said they remained hopeful of being cleared after submitting additional documents requested by the committee. 
The dispute is the latest sign of deepening political divisions within the Rivers APC ahead of the 2027 elections, especially amid the continuing rivalry between camps associated with Governor Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike. Political observers warn that unresolved grievances from the screening exercise could fuel defections, court cases, and internal crises before the party primaries. 
