APC clears 12 Edo governorship aspirants ahead of primary election

The All Progressives Congress in Edo State has cleared all 12 governorship aspirants ahead of the party’s primary election scheduled for February 17.

The aspirants are vying for the party’s state gubernatorial ticket in the upcoming September 2024 governorship poll.

The APC announced that 12 aspirants will be participating in the screening process ahead of the party’s primary election.

Abdullahi Ganduje the national chairman of the party, and Ajibola Basiru, the national secretary, were absent at the oath-taking event which took place on Thursday at the national headquarters of the APC in Abuja by 12 noon.

All 12 aspirants were cleared by the party’s National Gubernatorial Aspirants Screening Committee, headed by the Taoheed Adedoja-led seven-man committee on Friday night.

The screening exercise was held from Thursday, February 8 to Friday, Ferbruary 9, 2024.

This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Sulaiman Arugungu, the APC national organising secretary, in Abuja.

Arugungu stated that all the cleared aspirants will be issued Certificate of Screening clearance on Saturday at the party’s secretariat.

The cleared aspirants include former Minister of State, National Economic Planning, Clem Agba; Senator Monday Okpebholo, who represents Edo Central; former Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasuen; member representing Etsako Federal Constituency, Anamero Dekeri; former APC governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Gideon Ikhine.

Others cleared are the immediate past Edo APC chairman, (retd.) David Imuse; former Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Charles Airhiavbere; former Governor Oserheimen Osunbor; former Zonal Organising Secretary (South-South), Blessing Agbohmere; member representing Ovia South/West-Ovia North/East Federal Constituency, Dennis Idahosa and Ernest Umakhihe.

The statement read, “The All Progressives Congress (APC) Edo State Gubernatorial Aspirants’ Screening Committee has screened and cleared all the 12 gubernatorial aspirants that physically presented themselves to be screened by the party’s screening committee.

“All the 12 aspirants who purchased the Expression of Interest Fotms and Nomination Forms were screened by the screening committee over a two-day period between Thursday, February 8, 2024 and Friday, February 9, 2024.

“The Certificate of Screening will be presented to all the 12 Gubernatorial aspirants at the party’s Secretariat by the National Organising tomorrow Saturday 10th February 2024.”