The leadership of the All Progressives Congress APC has disqualified former Rivers State deputy governor and serving senator, Ipalibo Banigo, from contesting in the party’s senatorial primary election scheduled to hold on Monday.
Banigo, who served as deputy governor of Rivers State between 2015 and 2023 under former governor Nyesom Wike, was among several aspirants barred from participating in the APC primary process.
Others affected by the disqualification include Ojukaye Flag Amachree, Tamunobaabo Danagogo, and businessman Jack Rich Tien, all from Rivers West Senatorial District.
However, several politicians believed to be close allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, were cleared to contest the primaries. They include Felix Obuah for Rivers West Senatorial District, Allwell Onyeosoh, Osarosaka Ebenezer, and Barry Mwara from Rivers Southeast.
Although the APC leadership did not provide official reasons for the disqualifications, political observers believe the move may be linked to alleged disloyalty to Wike during the political crisis involving Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the former governor.
A party source alleged that Banigo maintained a neutral position during the conflict between Wike and Fubara, a development that may have influenced the party’s decision. Similar claims were also made regarding Danagogo, who served in both Wike and Fubara’s administrations.
Reacting to the development, human rights activist Solomon Lenu warned that the disqualifications could trigger internal crisis within the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, aggrieved party members may remain within the party while secretly working against its success.
He further argued that denying aspirants the opportunity to test their popularity through democratic elections could weaken unity within the ruling party.
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