APC axes 14 candidates, including 4 backers of Fubara, from party primaries

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Fubara

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By Omeiza Ajayi

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The ruling All Progressives Congress APC has released a list of 14 House of Representatives aspirants who were screened but disqualified from participating in Saturday’s primary election, with the party citing failure to meet its established screening criteria.

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National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, in a tweet on the party’s X handle on Saturday in Abuja, said the screening exercise was conducted by the party’s screening committees “in line with established procedures and guidelines,” without specifying the individual grounds for each disqualification.

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Rivers State had four aspirants disqualified. They are reportedly allies of the state governor, Sim Fubara. Those affected are: Air Commodore John Azubuike Opara, UNI (Rtd), who was seeking the Port Harcourt seat; Hon. Anderson Allison Igbiki of Okrika/Ogu/Bolo; Awaji Imombek D. Abirite of Andoni/Opori/Nkoko; and Hon. Boma Goodhead of Asari Toru/Akuku-Toro.

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The affected aspirants span six states — Ondo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Kogi and Rivers — with Ondo and Rivers states accounting for the bulk of the disqualifications.

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Seven aspirants from Ondo State were barred from the primary. They are Hon. Adefisoye Tajudeen, who had sought the Idanre/Ifedore seat; Olusegun Victor Ategbole and Seun Oluwashina Ajongbolo, both contesting the Akoko South-East/South-West constituency; Rt. Hon. Arowole Ayodeji Samuel of Owo/Ose; and Morufu Tosin Ibrahim, Oseni Oyeniyi and Olaleye John Adedipe, all three of whom were in contention for the Akoko North-East/North-West seat.

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The remaining three disqualifications cut across Bauchi, Ebonyi and Kogi states, respectively. Dr. Bashir Ibrahim Bello was barred from the Darazo/Ganjuwa race in Bauchi; Hon. Idu Igariwe was disqualified from the Afikpo-Edda Federal Constituency contest in Ebonyi; while Sanni Salau Ogembe of Kogi State was cleared out of the Okene/Ogori/Magongo primary.

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The disqualifications add another layer of tension to what has already been a turbulent primaries’ season for the ruling party, which has been grappling with widespread resistance to consensus arrangements and last-minute withdrawals in several states.

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The affected aspirants have not yet indicated whether they intend to challenge their disqualification through the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms.

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