Bakare was backed by the only female aspirant, Ms Ken-Ohaneye, who said she will be willing to step down for another candidate if the party asks her to
By Kehinde Okeowo
One of the presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said he will be willing to respect the decision of the party at the end of their screening.
He made the commitment and reiterated the party’s supremacy after he was screened alongside twelve other aspirants on Monday, May 30 by the party’s Screening Committee led by former National Chairman, John Oyegun.
The screening exercise is expected to continue on Tuesday, May 31 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
Speaking to journalists after his screening, Mr Bakare said the decision as to who will fly the flag of the party lies with the party.
He also said despite paying a huge sum for the form and going through the screening, he will respect the decision of the party at the end of the exercise.
He said, “The party supremacy is the utmost essence. You cannot force your way through a party’s structure. The party has the final say. And when we get to that bridge, we will know how to cross it,”
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The National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu, had earlier inaugurated the committee to screen the aspirants on Monday and they immediately got to work.
The twelve aspirants screened so far are; former Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajuiba; Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, Felix Nicholas; a U.S.-based pastor, Uju Ken-Ohaneye, former Minister of Transportation, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State, former governor of Zamfara State, Sani Yerima, former Senate President Ken Nnamani.
Others are; former Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun; Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; a serving senator, Ajayi Borroffice; former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu and Tunde Bakare, a cleric.
The committee will resume the screening on Tuesday at the same venue to screen those who are yet to face the panel.
Those expected to be screened on Tuesday are, governor of Cross Rivers State, Ben Ayade, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Tein Jack-Rich, former Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu; former Minister of Information, Ikeobasi Mokelu; former Speaker of House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi; former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, Ms Ken-Ohaneye and former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.
Ms Ken-Ohaneye, the only female aspirant, backed Bakare’s assertion that the party is supreme over all the aspirants who expressed interest in the job.
She also said that she will be willing to step down for another candidate if that is the decision of the party.
“I want you to know that we are a family politically, and if I am asked by the party to step down, I will not challenge the party because like they say charity begins at home,” she said.
There was a mild drama during the exercise when Mr Tinubu’s participation in the exercise was challenged by an APC member from Kano, who petitioned the committee over his educational qualification.
It is also not clear if Mr Okorocha will be able to appear before the committee since he is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over corruption charges.
