The appeal panel set up by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for aspirants seeking to contest the Rivers State House of Assembly primaries has received 19 appeals from aggrieved contestants.
Naija News reports that the development comes as the party intensifies efforts to conclude its internal screening process ahead of the primaries.
Chairman of the APC Appeal Panel for Rivers State House of Assembly aspirants, Abdul Mahmud, disclosed that the panel had so far received 19 petitions from aspirants dissatisfied with the outcome of the screening exercise.
Mahmud said the appeal process commenced on Tuesday and would officially close on Wednesday, May 13.
According to him, the panel would thereafter review and determine all petitions submitted by affected aspirants.
The development followed reactions trailing the outcome of the screening exercise released by the party on Sunday.
The results showed that only 33 aspirants were cleared to participate in the House of Assembly primaries, while 65 others were not cleared.
The outcome sparked controversy within the party after all 32 aspirants believed to be loyal to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, were reportedly disqualified.
In contrast, many of those cleared were said to be serving lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The development has further highlighted the deepening political divisions within the Rivers APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
Supporters of the governor have also expressed dissatisfaction over what they described as a selective screening process.
Meanwhile, the party has advised aggrieved aspirants to utilise the appeal mechanism provided by the APC.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Rivers State APC Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, urged all aspirants who purchased nomination forms for the House of Assembly elections to confirm their screening status at the notice board located at the party’s state secretariat in Port Harcourt.
Ikenga explained that all appeals arising from the screening exercise must be formally submitted through the party secretariat within the stipulated timeframe.
The APC is expected to conclude the appeal process before proceeding with its House of Assembly primaries in Rivers State.
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