Wike meets APC nat’l chairman, Yilwatda amid Rivers screening controversy
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike Meets APC Chairman Amid Screening Controversy
ABUJA — Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, met with Nentawe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday at Yilwatda’s residence in Abuja.
The meeting comes amid increasing tensions in Rivers State following the party’s recent screening of candidates for the State House of Assembly elections. The APC screening committee, led by former lawmaker Muraina Ajibola, approved 33 of the 98 aspirants who had purchased nomination forms for the 32 available seats, while disqualifying 65.
The committee cited several reasons for the disqualifications, including inducement and attempted bribery, submission of unsworn affidavits, and invalid voter cards. Additional disqualifying factors included discrepancies such as conflicting birth dates, irregular membership details of nominators, and inconsistencies in the documentation submitted by the aspirants.
Among those disqualified were several candidates associated with Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former governorship candidate Tonye Cole.
Details regarding the closed-door discussion between Wike and Yilwatda were not made public at the time of this report.
