The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has dismissed allegations of bias in the screening of House of Assembly aspirants within the party.
The party rejected claims that aspirants believed to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, were favoured during the screening exercise, while those associated with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara were denied clearance.
Speaking with journalists at the APC State Secretariat in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, described the allegations as misleading and unfair.
Ikenga insisted that Wike is not a member of the APC and therefore has no influence or involvement in the party’s screening process.
According to him, although the former Rivers governor had publicly declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re election, linking him to the outcome of the screening exercise was inappropriate and baseless.
He further stated that the screening exercise was conducted peacefully and transparently, noting that the committee cleared 33 aspirants, while 65 others were not cleared.
The APC spokesperson also disclosed that the party had established an appeal committee to review petitions submitted by aggrieved aspirants, adding that the process had continued without disruption.
“Wike is not a member of our party, and so has no hand in our screening process. The allegation of being biased in the screening process is misleading and unfair,” Ikenga said.
