The ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, inaugurated two screening committees to examine and scrutinise aspirants contesting for the party’s governorship primaries on August 29.
The committees were inaugurated in Abuja by The National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole who urged them to do a proper screening.
He said proper screening of candidates would avoid a situation where the party would lose candidates again.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the party has scheduled Aug. 22 and Aug.23 for the committees to screen the aspirants.
Senator Hope Uzodinma leads the seven-member committee to screen aspirants in Kogi while the committee for aspirants in Bayelsa is chaired by Sen. Abdullahi Gumen.
The chairman urged the committees to request clarification from the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party if in doubt of claims or contradictions by any aspirant.
“You (committee) need to do proper screening and ensure that those who passed the screening are likely to be able to stand the test, not only of winning the election but will not be challenged after victory.
“We have a couple of cases where people claimed what they did not have or they sworn affidavits such that they have two, three ages, depending on what they sworn affidavits for.
“We have a recent case in Taraba where APC candidate who went through the entire process had his candidature nullified at the Supreme Court on account of falsification of age.
“If you notice the contradiction, identify them for clarification because if you fail to clarify, there is still another roadblock.
“The opponent can point out those contradictions and our party’s candidature might be in jeopardy. So, it is an exercise that is extremely important.
“Some people make claims to certain qualifications. They should have body proof to establish them before you and if you are in doubt, please amplify it to us, particularly with NWC, with the appropriate recommendation,” he said.
According to him, the committees should look put for eligibility of aspirants which includes financial membership of the aspirants, adding that such aspirant’s membership must exceed one year.
He also that only the NWC could give waver for any aspirant that spent less than a year at the party.
Oshiomhole, who said that the screening would hold at state party secretariats in Lokoja and Yenagoa, said that the idea was to move the party’s activities closer to the aspirants.