The All Progressives Congress has commenced the process of hearing appeals from aspirants dissatisfied with the outcome of its screening exercise ahead of the Rivers State House of Assembly primaries.
The party announced that the appeal hearings would begin Tuesday, offering a lifeline to dozens of aspirants who were not cleared to participate in the primaries. Out of the list released earlier, only 33 aspirants were approved, while 65 were disqualified, sparking internal concerns about fairness and balance.
Particularly striking is the disqualification of all 32 aspirants reportedly aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara. In contrast, many of those cleared are believed to be sitting lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly with ties to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. 
In a statement, the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, urged all aspirants who purchased nomination forms to verify their screening status at the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt. He added that those seeking redress should formally submit their appeals through the same channel.
The development underscores deepening political divisions within the party in Rivers State, as competing interests jostle for influence ahead of the primaries. Observers say the outcome of the appeal process could play a crucial role in determining the party’s cohesion and electoral strength going forward.
