Amaewhule, Other Wike Loyalists Sweep Rivers APC Reps Primaries

Amaewhule, Other Wike Loyalists Sweep Rivers APC Reps Primaries

Loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, swept the All Progressives Congress House of Representatives primaries in Rivers State on Saturday, consolidating their influence within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The primaries, conducted across the 13 federal constituencies in the state, produced several prominent figures aligned with Wike’s political structure, including Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule.

The results were officially announced at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Primary Election Committee, Wahab Owokoniran, who described the exercise as peaceful and orderly despite political tensions in the state.

Amaewhule, one of the leading figures in the pro-Wike camp during the prolonged Rivers political crisis, emerged unopposed as the APC candidate for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency 1 after polling 17,968 votes.

Declaring the result, Owokoniran said, “Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule having satisfied the requirement of the APC constitution and guidelines and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner.”

The outcome of the primaries further highlighted the growing dominance of Wike’s allies within the Rivers APC amid the lingering political rift between the former governor and his estranged successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Before the primaries, the party screened aspirants and reportedly disqualified four individuals linked to Governor Fubara, including three serving members of the House of Representatives, a move that triggered criticism from some political stakeholders in the state.

Only 20 aspirants were eventually cleared to participate in the exercise.

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Among other notable winners was Dumnamene Dekor, who retained influence in Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency by defeating Israel Ngbuelo with 17,073 votes against 1,220.

Cyril Hart clinched the APC ticket for Degema-Bonny Federal Constituency after polling 7,203 votes to defeat Philemon Tombodiea, who secured 1,020 votes.

Felix Nweke emerged unopposed in Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency with 18,605 votes, while Isobo Solomon defeated Luke Enerine in Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency after polling 11,303 votes against 954.

In Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Federal Constituency, Chukwuemele Obuzor won unopposed with 15,626 votes.

Fredrick Apiafi also secured victory unopposed in Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency after polling 8,550 votes.

Other winners included Chibuzor Nwamaka in Etche-Omuma Federal Constituency, Joy Nyebuchi in Ikwerre-Emuoha Federal Constituency, Blessing Amadi in Port Harcourt Constituency 2, Linda Steward in Okrika/Ogu-Bolo Federal Constituency and Solomon Bob in Abua-Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency.

Igwe Precious equally emerged candidate for Port Harcourt Federal Constituency after polling 5,885 votes as the sole aspirant.

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, including the Rivers Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Johnson Sinikiem, monitored the exercise at the party secretariat.

The committee temporarily suspended proceedings twice while awaiting collation of results from some constituencies, including Port Harcourt, Khana/Gokana, Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru and Degema-Bonny.

Following the exercise, Owokoniran praised party members for conducting what he described as a violence-free primary despite widespread perceptions of political instability in Rivers State.

“This is the final declaration. We have declared 13 out of 13 federal constituency results. We want to let the whole world know that the election was conducted in a very peaceful atmosphere,” he stated.

He added that there was no rancour or violence during the process, contrary to fears that political tensions in Rivers could disrupt the primaries.

The Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, also commended party members for maintaining order and urged victorious aspirants to remain humble ahead of the general elections.

“That you have won today doesn’t mean you have won the general election,” Ikenga said, while assuring aggrieved aspirants that the party would work towards reconciliation and unity.

Political observers noted that most of the successful aspirants are associated with the “Rainbow Coalition” or “Joint Coalition,” a political alliance reportedly designed to unite APC and PDP supporters in Rivers State in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The latest development is expected to further deepen the power struggle between the camps loyal to Wike and Governor Fubara, whose political relationship collapsed barely months after the governor assumed office in 2023.

Analysts believe the primaries have strengthened Wike’s hold on the APC structure in Rivers State while raising fresh questions about Fubara’s political future ahead of the next election cycle.

Amaewhule, Other Wike Loyalists Sweep Rivers APC Reps Primaries