Fresh political tension has erupted within the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following reports that the party leadership has annulled all results and nominations from its recently concluded primaries, effectively removing candidates believed to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
According to reports from party sources and political observers, the decision was taken by a faction of the APC leadership in the state, which declared that the entire primary election process that produced the candidates was invalid. The leadership argued that the congresses and structures that conducted the primaries were already under legal dispute and therefore lacked legitimacy.
The annulled primaries reportedly produced several Wike-aligned aspirants across key positions, including tickets for the governorship, House of Representatives, and State House of Assembly. These candidates were widely seen as part of a broader political arrangement aimed at strengthening Wike’s influence within the APC structure in Rivers State ahead of future elections.
However, the latest move has now overturned those outcomes, with the factional leadership insisting that any decisions made under what it described as an “illegally constituted” party structure cannot stand. The leadership also cited court-related disputes that had previously challenged the validity of earlier party congresses in the state.
The development has further intensified existing divisions within the Rivers APC, where rival factions have continued to battle for control of the party structure. The internal struggle has been largely shaped by competing interests between political blocs aligned with key stakeholders in the state.
Political analysts warn that this latest crisis could deepen instability within the party in Rivers State and may affect its preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections if not urgently resolved. There are also expectations that the decision could trigger fresh legal challenges from affected aspirants seeking to reclaim their nominations.
Meanwhile, attention is now shifting to the national leadership of the APC, which is expected to intervene and provide a clear direction on whether to uphold the cancellation or order a fresh round of primaries to settle the dispute.
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