APC Senatorial Primary: Group rejects Jack-Rich’s exclusion in Rivers

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has expressed concern over the screening and clearance process for aspirants seeking the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial tickets in Rivers State. The council said concerns had arisen following the non-clearance of a former APC presidential aspirant in the 2023 general elections, Engr. Tein T.S. Jack-Rich, for the […]

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has expressed concern over the screening and clearance process for aspirants seeking the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial tickets in Rivers State.

The council said concerns had arisen following the non-clearance of a former APC presidential aspirant in the 2023 general elections, Engr. Tein T.S. Jack-Rich, for the APC Senatorial Primary Election for Rivers West Senatorial District.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the NYCN President, Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, the council called on the APC leadership to review the screening process to ensure transparency and fairness.

The council stated that Jack-Rich had contributed to the growth of the party and should be given fair consideration in the process.

According to the statement, the development has generated reactions among youths and political stakeholders in Rivers State.

Sukubo said: “It is unfortunate that a candidate who previously contested at the national presidential primaries level would now be screened out of a senatorial race without clear justification.

“Democracy can only flourish where all qualified aspirants are given equal opportunity to participate in the electoral process. Any attempt to deny aspirants participation risks escalating political tensions and deepening divisions within the state.

“Rivers State deserves a transparent, credible, and inclusive political process that reflects the democratic values of fairness, justice, and equal representation for all stakeholders.”

The NYCN President also expressed concern that no aspirant of Ijaw extraction was reportedly cleared across the three senatorial districts in the state, warning that the situation could create perceptions of marginalisation.

He said: “Such developments, if not properly addressed, may be interpreted as exclusionary and could discourage broader political support for the party and the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Sukubo further described Jack-Rich as a businessman and philanthropist who had supported youth empowerment and community development initiatives in different parts of the country.

He called on the APC national leadership to review the screening exercise and ensure that all procedures connected to the primaries are conducted transparently.

“I also urge a thorough investigation into concerns surrounding the screening committee and relevant party structures involved in the process,” he said.

The NYCN President appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to encourage dialogue and inclusivity among stakeholders in order to sustain unity within the party and maintain peace in Rivers State.

He also urged youths and political supporters in the state to remain calm and law-abiding while party leadership and democratic institutions address the matter through peaceful and constitutional means.