Ahead of the party’s primary election scheduled for February 17, the All Progressives Congress in Edo State has given the green light to all 12 governorship aspirants. The aspirants are competing for the party’s state gubernatorial ticket in the upcoming September 2024 governorship poll.
An announcement by the APC stated that 12 aspirants will participate in the screening process for the party’s primary election. However, the National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and the National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, were absent during the oath-taking event held on Thursday at the national headquarters of the APC in Abuja.
The party’s National Gubernatorial Aspirants Screening Committee, led by Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, cleared all 12 aspirants following the screening exercise held from Thursday, February 8, to Friday, Ferbruary 9, 2024. The announcement was made in a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Arugungu in Abuja.
Among those cleared are the immediate past Edo APC chairman, (retd.) Col. David Imuse; former Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (retd.) Maj-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere; former Governor Oserheimen Osunbor; former Zonal Organising Secretary (South-South), Dr. Blessing Agbohmere; member representing Ovia South/West-Ovia North/East Federal Constituency, Dennis Idahosa and Dr. 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 8th February 2024 and Friday 9th February 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.”