The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other allies of Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, winners of its House of Representatives primaries across Rivers State.
The party announced the results after Saturday’s primaries held in the state’s federal constituencies, with candidates emerging largely from the political bloc aligned with Wike ahead of the 2027 general election.
The exercise followed the disqualification of four aspirants believed to be loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, including three serving members of the House of Representatives. The APC had cleared 20 other aspirants to participate in the contest.
Results were declared at the party secretariat in Port Harcourt by the chairman of the APC House of Representatives Primary Election Committee, Wahab Owokoniran. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, including Rivers Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Johnson Sinikiem, monitored the process.
Amaewhule emerged unopposed for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency 1, polling 17,968 votes to clinch the party’s ticket.
Announcing the result, Owokoniran said Amaewhule satisfied the requirements of the party’s constitution and guidelines and was duly returned as the APC candidate.
Several other aspirants also secured tickets, with some winning unchallenged and others defeating rivals in direct contests.
In Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 1, sole aspirant Igwe Precious polled 5,885 votes. Dumnamene Dekor retained control of Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency after defeating Israel Ngbuelo by 17,073 votes to 1,220.
Cyril Hart defeated Philemon Tombodiea in Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency, while Felix Nweke ran unopposed in Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo. Isobo Solomon also recorded a comfortable victory over Luke Enerine in Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru.
Other winners included Chukwuemele Obuzor for Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, Fredrick Apiafi for Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro, Chibuzor Nwamaka for Etche/Omuma, Joy Nyebuchi for Ikwerre/Emuoha, Blessing Amadi for Port Harcourt Constituency 2, Linda Steward for Okrika/Ogu-Bolo, and Solomon Bob for Abua/Odual/Ahoada East.
Owokoniran described the primaries as peaceful, saying the process contradicted widespread perceptions of political violence in Rivers State.
“We have declared all constituency results. The exercise was conducted peacefully. There was no violence, no rancour and no disruption,” he said.
The APC committee chairman added that the conduct of party members during the primaries showed growing political maturity and expressed confidence in the party’s chances in the 2027 elections.
Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, urged successful aspirants not to become complacent, warning that winning the primary did not amount to victory in the general election.
He said the party would continue efforts to reconcile aggrieved members and strengthen internal unity ahead of the main contest.
The outcome of the primaries further underlines Wike’s firm grip on APC politics in Rivers, with many of the successful candidates linked to the “Rainbow Coalition” or “Joint Coalition”, the political alliance backing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in the state.
