There is fresh anxiety within the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the party’s silence on the outcome of its screening exercise for aspirants ahead of the 2027 elections.
It was learnt that the uncertainty has increased tension among supporters of some of the governorship aspirants with the political future of the allies of the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara at stake.
The Guardian learnt that the APC national leadership had continued to resist pressure to release the screening report.
Some party sources attributed the delay to President Bola Tinubu’s trip to Kenya, saying leaders were awaiting his return before taking a final decision.
Others said the party was treading carefully so as not to drive aggrieved aspirants to opposition parties.
On Wednesday, members of the National Working Committee led by the National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, were absent at the APC National Secretariat, further raising concerns among camps of affected aspirants.
The missing of the top members of the NWC has raised fears about the fate of politicians believed to be loyal to Fubara in the APC structure in Rivers State.
Speculations also ran high on the modalities for the party’s direct primaries proposal.
Party sources said the arrest was linked to fears that lawmakers loyal to Fubara in the Rivers State House of Assembly could be marginalised or lose their influence after the long-running political crisis in the state.
According to reports, tension heightened following allegations that some aspirants believed to be loyal to Fubara did not scale through the party’s internal screening in Rivers State.
However, the APC has denied allegations of bias and insisted that the screening process complied with established procedures.
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