Rivers: Surprise As APC Screening Panel Stops Wike’s Former Deputy From Senatorial Primaries

By Adesina Soyooye

Shock has greeted the disqualification of Senator Ipalibo Banigo by the All Progressive Congress Senatorial Screening Committee from participating in the Senatorial Primaries.

Senator Banigo, a Medical Doctor-turned politician was for two-terms, Rivers State Deputy Governor under then Governor Nyesom Wike. The two were thought to have had a very tidy relationship while at the Government House, Rivers, which explains why she was sponsored by Wike to go to the Senate.

Both are still thought to have a good relationship for which a number of people say explain her decamping to the APC from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

But not a few people think that his defection to the APC may have cost him the ticket. The speculation is that Wike, who is the leader of a faction of the PDP, aside from the Presidency and the Governorship, would want the PDP to occupy all the other elective offices in the State.

Since 2023, Wike had made it clear that his support and loyalty lie with President Bola Tinubu.

In the upcoming Governorship election, one of his most loyal political allies and confidante, Honourable Kingsley Chinda, has been cleared to take part in the  APC Governorship Primaries after he quietly defected from the PDP. With Wike’s support, it will be difficult to defeat Chinda either in the Party Primaries, or the General Elections in January.

Senator Banigo was elected to the Senate in 2023 immediately after serving as Wike’s Deputy Governor from 2015 to 2023.

Presently, he is representing Rivers West Senatorial District. With her disqualification, she is billed to be a one-term Senator. No reason has been given for her disqualification.