APC names Amaewhule, other Wike allies as Reps candidates in Rivers

The All Progressives Congress, APC, on Saturday night announced the winners of its House of Representatives primary elections across the 13 federal constituencies in Rivers State, with Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, emerging among the successful candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria.

The results were declared at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt by the chairman of the party’s House of Representatives Primary Election Committee in the state, Wahab Owokoniran, after receiving reports from collation officers across the constituencies.

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, including Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner Johnson Sinikiem, were present during the announcement.

The APC had earlier screened aspirants seeking to contest the primaries and disqualified four aspirants linked to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, including three serving members of the House of Representatives, while clearing other aspirants to participate in the exercise.

In Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency 1, Amaewhule contested as the sole aspirant and secured 17,968 votes to emerge as the APC candidate for the constituency. Port Harcourt Federal Constituency also produced a sole aspirant, Igwe Precious, who polled 5,885 votes to clinch the party ticket.

For Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, serving lawmaker Dumnamene Dekor defeated Israel Ngbuelo after scoring 17,073 votes against 1,220 votes. In Degema-Bonny Federal Constituency, Cyril Hart won the ticket with 7,203 votes, defeating Philemon Tombodiea who received 1,020 votes.

Felix Nweke emerged as candidate for Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency after polling 18,605 votes as the only aspirant in the race. In Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency, Isobo Solomon defeated Luke Enerine with 11,303 votes against 954 votes.

Chukwuemele Obuzor also secured victory in Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Federal Constituency after polling 15,626 votes as sole aspirant. In Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency, Fredrick Apiafi won with 8,550 votes.

Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency produced Chibuzor Nwamaka as winner after he scored 10,414 votes while Queen Obasi polled 2,123 votes. In Ikwerre/Emuoha Federal Constituency, Joy Nyebuchi defeated Lawrence Ogbor after securing 13,704 votes against 2,030 votes.

Blessing Amadi emerged candidate for Port Harcourt Constituency 2 after polling 5,674 votes as the only aspirant. In Okrika/Ogu-Bolo Federal Constituency, Linda Steward defeated Tekena Ikaki with 12,247 votes against 388 votes. Solomon Bob also won the APC primary in Abua-Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency after scoring 16,079 votes.

Speaking after the exercise, Owokoniran described the primaries as peaceful and orderly, stating that there was no violence during the process despite public concerns about political tension in the state. He praised party members for their conduct and expressed confidence in the APC’s chances in the 2027 elections.

The APC Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, Chibike Ikenga, also called on winners to remain humble and work towards uniting party members ahead of the general election. He added that the party would continue efforts to reconcile members who were unhappy with the outcome of the primaries.

Most of the candidates who emerged from the exercise are known political allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Several of them are also linked to the political coalition supporting President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition in Rivers State.