From Romanus Ugwu , Abuja The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has given a clean bill of health to all the 16 aspirants that purchased expression of interest and nomination forms and screened to contest the party’s primary for the November Ondo State governorship election. The Senator Joshua Lidani-led Seven-man Screening Committee gave all the 16 aspirants a nod to contest the party primary billed for April 20.
The committee inaugurated last week Friday alongside the Screening Appeal Committees by the Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, on behalf of the National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, took time to drill the aspirants in the exercise held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. In screening the aspirants, the committee had considered their eligibility, suitability, character assessment and support verification, among others as prescribed by the Electoral Act and the guidelines for the election.
Sitting for over seven hours interacting with the aspirants, the committee took time to scrutinise the documents they submitted, declaring all the 16 aspirants they felt met the requirements to contest the primary and main elections.
The clearance of all the aspirants was contained in a report the chairman of the committee submitted to the party’s leadership yesterday through the Directorate of Organisation.
Those cleared include Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa; former National Vice Chairman (South West), Isaac Kekemeke; Olusoji Adewale Ehinlanwo, former member of the House of Assembly; Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema and business mogul, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim. Others are Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo; Akinfolarin Mayo Samuel; former Commissioner for Finance, Adewale Olumuyiwa Akinterinwa; legal luminary, Olusola Alexander Oke SAN; Ohunyeye Olamide Felix and Morayo Lebi. Also cleared for the primary election are Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan; Francis Adebayo Faduyile, Judith Folakemi Omogoroye, President Unilag Alumni (Worldwide), Ifeoluwa Olusola Oyedele and Omo’Oba Okunjimi Odimayo John.
The committee also stated in the report clearing the aspirants that all of them demonstrated willingness to support any aspirant that finally emerges the party’s standard bearer for the November governorship poll. The committee also urged the national leadership to provide a level playing field to promote democratic ideals and enhance the electoral process, appealing that it ensures that their desire and commitment are followed to avoid any future anti-party activity.
It further recommended that the party’s leadership must ensure that the April 20 primary election is free, fair and credible with no room to impose any aspirant on others.
