Rivers: NYCN rejects Jack-Rich’s exclusion from APC Senatorial Primary

…demands review, Tinubu’s intervention

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has expressed deep concern over the rising political tension in Rivers State following complaints in the screening and clearance process for aspirants vying for All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial tickets.

The Council warned that any action that undermines fairness, inclusivity, and internal party democracy must be addressed promptly to safeguard peace, stability, and the broader goal of democratic consolidation in Rivers State and across Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Monday and personally signed by its President, Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, the NYCN stated that its intervention was prompted by the non-clearance and exclusion of Engr. Tein T.S. Jack-Rich, a former APC Presidential aspirant in the 2023 general elections, from the APC Senatorial Primary Election for Rivers West Senatorial District.

The apex youth body described the development as disturbing and unacceptable, saying it is unjust to disqualify Engr. Jack-Rich, a loyal and committed party member who has made significant contributions to the growth and electoral fortunes of the APC at the national, regional, and state levels.

His exclusion, the NYCN argued, sends a discouraging signal to long-standing members who have invested time, resources, and credibility in building the party.

The Youth Council further described the deliberate exclusion of Tein Jack-Rich from the Rivers West Senatorial Primary in favour of a recently defected loyalist of the FCT Minister who has contributed nothing to the APC as manipulative, autocratic, and undemocratic.

It cautioned that such practices erode trust in party structures, weaken internal cohesion, and risk alienating the party’s grassroots base ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The NYCN urged the APC leadership to urgently review the screening process and uphold transparent, merit-based criteria that reflect the party’s constitutional principles of fairness, equal opportunity, longtime commitment and sacrifice to the party.

According to Sukubo, the development has generated widespread concern among youths, stakeholders, and political observers across the state.

He stated, “This is unfortunate and unacceptable the situation in which a candidate who previously contested at the national presidential primaries level would now be screened out of a senatorial race without clear and convincing justification.

“Democracy can only flourish where all qualified aspirants are given equal opportunity to participate in the electoral process without intimidation, discrimination, or political suppression. Any attempt to deny aspirants fair participation, he warned, risks escalating political tensions and deepening divisions within the state.

“Rivers State, as one of Nigeria’s most politically and economically significant states, deserves a transparent, credible, and inclusive political process that reflects the core democratic values of fairness, justice, and equal representation for all stakeholders.

“I am concerned that across the three senatorial districts of Rivers State—Rivers West, Rivers East, and Rivers South-East—no aspirant of Ijaw extraction has been cleared, this situation is troubling and capable of creating perceptions of marginalisation within a critical segment of the state’s population.

“And such developments, if not properly addressed, may be wrongly interpreted as exclusionary tendencies against the Ijaw people and could discourage broader political support for the party and the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Tein Jack-Rich, over the years he has been a major employer of thousands of Nigerian youths beyond Rivers State, while also investing significantly in youth empowerment programmes, community development projects, and skills acquisition initiatives across the country.

“He is a patriotic Nigerian who has consistently supported successive Presidents and national development efforts, such a personality should not be subjected to unlawful exclusion from the democratic process.

“I call on the national leadership of the ruling party to urgently review the screening exercise in order to ensure that all procedures connected to the primaries are conducted in a transparent, fair, and accountable manner. I also urge a thorough investigation into allegations surrounding the screening committee and all relevant party structures involved in the process.

“As Youth Council President I appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the matter by encouraging fairness, dialogue, and inclusivity among stakeholders, such intervention would help preserve unity within the party and sustain peace in Rivers State.”

Reaffirming his commitment, the NYCN President stated that Youth Council remains dedicated to promoting peaceful political engagement, strengthening democratic institutions, and defending the right of all Nigerians to participate freely in politics without fear of exclusion or intimidation.

He further urged youths and political supporters across Rivers State to remain calm, law-abiding, and refrain from actions that could heighten tensions, while allowing party leadership and democratic institutions to resolve the issues through constitutional and peaceful means.

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