The committee overseeing the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primaries in Rivers State has officially declared winners for the party's 13 federal constituencies ahead of the 2027 general elections. The announcement was made on Saturday evening at the collation centre located at the APC State Secretariat along Aba Road in Port Harcourt.
Key Winners Announced
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Wahab Owokoniran, released the results, highlighting several prominent candidates. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Deekor emerged victorious in the Gokana/Khana Federal Constituency primary with 17,073 votes, defeating Israel Lebura Ngbuelo who garnered 1,220 votes. Deekor currently represents the constituency in the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, secured the APC ticket for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency. Amaewhule is widely regarded as a close ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Uncontested and Decisive Victories
In Port Harcourt Federal Constituency I, Precious Igwe ran unopposed and polled 5,885 votes to clinch the ticket, while Blessing Amadi emerged winner for Port Harcourt II Federal Constituency. Hart Cyril Godwin won the Bonny/Degema Federal Constituency primary after defeating Philmoore Tombodiea Tony. Felix Uche Nwaeke secured 18,605 votes to become the candidate for Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency. Similarly, Isobo Solomon won the Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency primary.
Linda Somiari-Steward, currently representing Okrika Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, emerged winner for Okrika/Ogu/Bolo Federal Constituency. Solomon Bob was declared winner for Obua/Odual/Ahoada-East Federal Constituency, while incumbent lawmaker Victor Obuzor clinched the APC ticket for Ahoada-West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Federal Constituency with 15,626 votes.
Other Winners and Disqualifications
Further winners include Frederick Apiafi for Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency and Ozuzum Nwamaka, who polled 10,440 votes to defeat Obasi Chinazam in the Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency primary. In Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency, Onyeozu Joy Nyebuchi defeated Adiele Ogbor with 13,704 votes to secure the party's ticket. The APC had earlier cleared 21 aspirants for the primaries while disqualifying four loyalists of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, during the screening exercise.
Peaceful Conduct and Reconciliation Calls
Owokoniran described the exercise as peaceful and devoid of violence. "We did not experience any form of rancour, infighting or disturbance whatsoever. Contrary to the impression that Rivers State is always violent, the exercise was peaceful throughout," he said. He expressed confidence that the APC would perform strongly in the 2027 general elections across all elective positions in the state. The Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, was present at the collation centre to observe the process.
APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Chibike Ikenga, urged aggrieved aspirants to support the party's candidates. "For those who did not make it, it does not mean they cannot succeed tomorrow. The party has internal mechanisms to reconcile members and ensure unity ahead of the general elections," he said.
Background on Disqualifications
Recall that the committee had on Friday disqualified four loyalists of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, from contesting the party's House of Representatives primaries scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026. The development was contained in the final list of aspirants released by the party. Among those disqualified are two serving members of the House of Representatives, Awaji-Inombek Abiante and Boma Goodhead. Abiante and Goodhead are regarded as key allies of Fubara and have remained vocal in their support for the governor since the political rift between him and his estranged political godfather, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Abiante is also said to be among stakeholders who purchased the governorship nomination form for Fubara. Others disqualified are retired Air Commodore John Opuene and Hon. Anderson Igbiki.
