Guber Race: We have not screened, disqualified any aspirant- APC

From Moshood Olawale Karim

The Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday said no aspirant has been screened or disqualified from the governorship race.
A six-man committee was set up to look into ways of reducing the number of aspirants from 29 to a manageable number. However, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Peter Uwadiae, has debunked reports that the committee screened the number of aspirants down to 10, then 6, and finally 4.
Uwadiae clarified that the committee was advisory and not a screening committee and was set up to meet with aspirants to reduce the number of aspirants to a manageable number. He also said that no aspirants have been screened and disqualified, and the sale of the expression form, which cost N10 million and the nomination form which goes for N40 million, is still on sale for anyone who wants to vie for the governorship position on the platform of the party.
Uwadiae said: “There is no truth in the news making the rounds that governorship aspirants have been screened and about 25 have been disqualified. Based on the advice of the National Working Committee of the party, we set up a committee led by Julius Ihonvbere to interface with the aspirants on the need to reduce the number of aspirants to a manageable one. It is after the close of sale of forms that the NWC will set up a screening committee.

“The Committee also advised the Edo APC to be in a talking relationship with the aspirants so that those who know they cannot go all the way can exit the race. So no aspirants has been screened and disqualified,”

He urged party faithful not to allow the situation to cause rancour and disaffection among them, which will rub off on the party negatively at the polls.