Ajimobi Heads APC 7-member 2016 Ondo Governorship Screening Committee
· Anaekwe Chairs Screening Appeal Committee
The National Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC),
Senator Osita Izunaso on Wednesday at the Party's National Secretariat in
Abuja inaugurated a high-powered seven-member Screening Committee and
three-member Screening Appeal Committee for the 2016 Ondo State
governorship election primaries.
The seven-member Screening Committee is chaired by Oyo State Governor
Abiola Ajimobi. Other members are: Mr. Joe Igbokwe, Hon. Fatsuma Talba,
Chief Felix Nwachukwu, Mr. Aminu Jacob Momoh, Alhaji Mustapha Abubakar and
Alhaji Umar Duhu (Secretary).
The three-member Screening Appeal Committee is chaired by former Speaker
of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Agunwa Anaekwe. Other members are:
Hon. Sadiq Abdullahi and Dr. Bashiru Ajibola (Secretary).
The APC National Organising Secretary charged the seven-member Screening
Committee to carry out comprehensive due diligence of all documents
submitted to the party by aspirants. He said all candidates must meet
eligibility requirements provided by the 1999 Constitution (as amended),
2010 Electoral Act (as amended), the Party's constitution and the Party's
2014 guidelines for the nomination of candidates for public office.
He said: “The assignment of this committee is a very serious one. You are
expected to look at the qualifications of the aspirants that have bought
forms to contest for the Ondo state governorship on the platform of our
party. Their qualification must be looked at in line with the 1999
Constitution and in line with our Party's guidelines as well. You must
also make sure aspirants have paid the N5million for the nomination form
and N500,000 for the expression of interest form. There must be evidence
of this payment. You must also look at the aspirant's contribution to the
Party at ward, state and even at the national level. You must also look at
their knowledge of the Party's manifesto.
The APC National Organising Secretary stated that the screening exercise
is mandatory for all aspirants and aspirants are not to be screened by
proxy.
“It is the screening committee's responsibility to verify all documents
submitted by aspirants. As much as possible, you have to see originals of
documents submitted to the committee. The reason being that if we present
a candidate that is not qualified, even when we win the election, we might
still lose it. INEC is not going to screen candidates for us. That is why
this assignment is very important.” the APC National Organising Secretary,
Senator Osita Izunaso said.
Speaking at the inauguration, Chairman of the Screening Committee, Oyo
State Governor Abiola Ajimobi expressed confidence that the APC will win
the Ondo state governorship election. He also said all aspirants will be
treated fairly and justly during the screening exercise.
Ajimobi: “It is indeed our pleasure, honour and privilege to be given this
opportunity to serve our Party particularly on this onerous task of
screening some of our members who are interested in becoming the governor
of Ondo state. We are expected to be fair, just and ensure that those that
we choose would definitely become the next governor of Ondo state. I
believe once we are fair, once we look for quality, there is no doubt that
we will win in Ondo state. As some of us are known as jinx breakers,
anything we touch wins, this will not be an exception. Whoever we choose,
I can guarantee, we will win.”
The Chairman of the Screening Appeal Committee, former Speaker of House of
Representatives, Rt. Hon. Agunwa Anaekwe also spoke at the inauguration.
He said, “The assignment we have is one that can make or mar the Party as
far as the Ondo state governorship election is concerned. I also want to
assure the party leadership that we are going to do our very best to
ensure that whoever is qualified to contest the election is allowed to
contest the election so that at the end, the people of Ondo state will
have that right to choose who their flag-bearer will be.”
According to the time-table and schedule of activities for the conduct of
the Ondo State 2016 APC Governorship Primary Election released by the APC
National Organising Secretary, sale of forms commenced at the Party's
National Secretariat from Tuesday 19th July to Friday 5th August, 2016.
Governorship nomination forms will be sold at N5 million while intending
aspirants are expected to pay N500, 000 to pick expression of interest
form. The forms are free for female aspirants.
Last day for submission of completed forms is Monday 8th August, 2016 at
the APC National Secretariat. Screening of aspirants will be conducted in
Abuja from Tuesday 9th to Friday 12th August, 2016. The Primary Election
will hold Saturday 27th August, 2016. Election Appeal will hold from
Monday 29th August to Thursday 1st September, 2016.
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