The All Progressives Congress has announced the winners of its House of Representatives primary elections across the 12 federal constituencies in Rivers State, with allies of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike emerging victorious.
Leading the list of winners is the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, who secured the APC ticket for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The primary elections were conducted on Saturday and the results later announced at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt by the Chairman of the State APC House of Representatives Primary Election Committee, Wahab Owokoniran.
The exercise was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, including the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Johnson Sinikiem.
Amaewhule, who emerged as the sole aspirant for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency 1, polled 17,968 votes to clinch the party’s ticket unopposed.
Other winners declared by the APC include Precious Igwe for Port Harcourt Federal Constituency, Felix Nweke for Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo, Isobo Solomon for Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru and Dumnamene Dekor for Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency.
Dekor defeated rival aspirant Israel Ngbuelo after polling 17,073 votes against 1,220 votes.
In Degema-Bonny Federal Constituency, Cyril Hart defeated Philemon Tombodiea with 7,203 votes against 1,020 votes.
Other candidates who emerged victorious include Chukwuemele Obuzor for Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, Fredrick Apiafi for Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro, Chibuzor Nwamaka for Etche/Omuma and Joy Nyebuchi for Ikwerre/Emuoha Federal Constituency.
Blessing Amadi also secured the APC ticket for Port Harcourt Constituency 2, while Linda Steward won the Okrika/Ogu-Bolo primary election.
For Abua-Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency, Solomon Bob emerged as the party’s candidate after polling 16,079 votes.
The APC had earlier disqualified four aspirants reportedly loyal to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, including three serving members of the House of Representatives, before the primaries.
Speaking after the exercise, Owokoniran described the elections as peaceful and orderly, expressing surprise over the calm atmosphere despite widespread perceptions of political tension in Rivers State.
According to him, there was no violence, crisis or internal conflict during the primaries, adding that party members conducted themselves responsibly throughout the process.
He expressed optimism that the APC would maintain the same unity ahead of the 2027 general elections and perform strongly in both presidential and governorship contests in Rivers State.
Also speaking, Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, urged the winners to remain humble and work towards uniting the party ahead of the general elections.
He also encouraged unsuccessful aspirants not to lose hope, assuring them that the party would continue reconciliation efforts to strengthen internal unity.
Most of the candidates who emerged are believed to be loyal to Nyesom Wike and members of the political alliance known as the “Rainbow Coalition” or “Joint Coalition,” a strategy reportedly aimed at mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition in Rivers State.
