The National Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State as the head of a seven-man committee that would screen all the aspirants of the party in Ondo State ahead of the August 27 primary election.
The National Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State as the head of a seven-man committee that would screen all the aspirants of the party in Ondo State ahead of the August 27 primary election.
Osita Izunaso, National Secretary of the APC, made the announcement in Abuja.
Mr. Izunaso named other members of the committee as Umar Dahu, the secretary, Joe Igbokwe, Fatsuma Talba, Aminu Jacob Momoh, Felix Nwachukwu, and Mustapha Abubakar.
He added that the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Agunwa Anaekwe, would chair another three-member screening committee that would take appeals rising from the screening exercise.
SaharaReporters gathered that the members of the appeal committee are Dr. Bashiru Ajibola, the Secretary, and Sadiq Abdullahi.
Mr. Izunaso explained that the committee must ensure the aspirants contesting the party’s primary election meet up with the requirements contained in the 1999 constitution (as amended), the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended) and the party’s constitution.
He added that aspirants must also adhere to the party’s constitution and the 2014 guidelines for the nomination of candidates for public offices noting that there qualification is also essential.
“The assignment of this committee is a very serious one. You are expected to look at the qualifications of the aspirants that have bought forms to contest for the Ondo State governorship on the platform of our party.
“You must also make sure aspirants have paid the N5 million for the nomination form and N500,000 for the expression of interest form. There must be evidence of this payment.
“You must also look at the aspirant’s contribution to the party at the ward, State and even at the national level. You must also look at their knowledge of the party’s manifesto.”
Remarking, Governor Ajimobi said the committee would give equal treatment to all aspirants during the screening exercise
He noted that the party was ready to take charge of governance in the State.
“We are expected to be fair, just and ensure that those that we choose would definitely become the next governor. I believe once we are fair, once we look for quality, there is no doubt that we will win in Ondo State.
“As some of us are known as jinx breakers, anything we touch wins; this will not be an exception. Whoever we choose, I can guarantee, we will win,” he said.
Mr. Anaekwe, the Chairman of the Screening Appeal Committee, similarly stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would elect the best candidate that would win the November governorship election.
