By James Adams
The appeal committee set up by the All Progressives Congress for the screening of aspirants into the Rivers State House of Assembly has confirmed the non-clearance of 65 out of 98 aspirants screened ahead of the party’s 2027 primaries in Rivers State.
Chairman of the appeal panel, Abdul Mahmud, disclosed this during a media briefing on Tuesday at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt.
Mahmud said the panel had resumed sitting and had so far received 19 petitions from aggrieved aspirants challenging the outcome of the screening exercise.
According to him, 33 aspirants were cleared during the initial screening conducted over the weekend, while 65 others were disqualified.
He explained that the figures had been confirmed by the various committees handling the screening process.
Mahmud, a legal practitioner and human rights lawyer, noted that although he is not a member of the APC, he was appointed to head the panel based on the confidence the party has in him.
The panel chairman said none of the petitions received had been concluded at the time of the briefing, adding that the committee would continue sitting until May 13, 2026.
He commended the conduct of the appellants, describing the process as peaceful and orderly.
“We salute the appellants. They were already here before we arrived. It has been peaceful since we started,” he said.
Mahmud disclosed that many of the disqualified aspirants complained that they only became aware of their non-clearance through social media reports.
According to him, several aspirants said they were not officially informed by the party about the reasons for their disqualification.
He advised the screening committee to improve communication with aspirants in future exercises by directly notifying unsuccessful candidates through text messages or other official channels.
The panel chairman also revealed that the appeal committee had received the full screening report detailing the names of cleared and disqualified aspirants as well as the alleged infractions against those not cleared.
He said some appellants who appeared before the panel without relevant supporting documents were directed to return with the required documents before the close of proceedings.
Mahmud stressed that the appeal panel would rely more on documentary evidence than oral submissions in determining cases brought before it.
He added that the committee had already treated nine petitions and would continue hearing the remaining appeals before the deadline for its assignment.
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