Edo 2024: APC inaugurates national guber screening, appeal committees

Edo 2024: APC inaugurates national guber screening, appeal committees

Joel Oladele, Abuja

Ahead of the forthcoming Edo governorship primaries, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated national screening and appeal committees for the aspirants jostling for its ticket.

Speaking on Thursday on behalf of the National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Organizing Secretary, Sulaiman Muhammad Arigungu promised maximum support for the committee to ensure a hitch free exercise.

Arigungu noted that the screening is one of the requirements of the constitution of the party, adding that after the screening, aggrieved aspirants can seek appellate intervention from the Screening Appeal Committee.

He assured the aspirants that members of the two committees were carefully selected and they are men of integrity capable of delivering on the job assigned to them.

“Therefore, as I welcome you to this very important occasion, let me use this opportunity to assure the rank and file of members of our great Party in Edo State and across the country that the National Chairman in concert with the entire members of the National Working Committee have ensured that the leadership and members nominated into these two Committees are individuals of principles and worthy values with political pedigrees that can be showcased with confidence anywhere and at any time.

“In short, Your Excellencies, Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, what I am saying,

in other words, is that as a body of progressive minded people, we are proud of you as a cohort of responsible and committed Party members and, I must state that I have the go ahead of the National Chairman to on behalf of the Party thank you and express our gratitude to you for accepting to serve your Party in this screening and screening appeal assignments. 

“As you proceed to engage with the task for which you have been nominated, please, be rest assured that we have made sure that the exercise will be hitch free and seamless with the presence of a Secretariat Support Team that will be personally led by my good self,” Arigungu noted.

Reacting, the chairman of the screening committee, Prof. Taoheed Abdul Adedoja, noted that his committee would not screen out any of the aspirants, but maintained that the guidelines would be strictly adhered to.

“We will be guided majorly by three documents in this assignment – the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the constitution of the party and the guidelines that have been handed over to aspirants in respect to their participation.

“I want to assure you that we will be fair, first and foremost in going through the guidelines in the process of our screening of these aspirants

“Our work is not to disqualify any aspirant but to allow all aspirants to clear themselves, and where there might be some problems, that’s why the appeal committee is also set up as part of the due process – fairness and justice process of this great party.”

National Periscope gathered that the two-day screening exercise began shortly after the inauguration of the committee with former  Minister of State, National Economic Planning, Prince Clem Agba, Senator Monday Okpebholo, who represents Edo Central in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, and former deputy governor, Hon. Lucky Imasuen.

Other aspirants screened were members representing Etsako Federal Constituency, Hon. Anamero Sunday Dekeri, former APC governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu, and Engr. Gideon Ikhine.

For Friday, February 9, the immediate past APC state chairman, Col. David Onabure Imuse, Major. General Charles Airhiavbere (Rtd) and Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor are to present themselves for screening between 10 – 12 pm

While former Zonal Organising Secretary (South-South),  Blessing Agbohmere, member representing Ovia South/West-Ovia North/East Federal Constituency, Hon. Dennis Idahosa and  Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe are slated to appear before the committee between 3 – 5 pm.