By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The Appeal Committees constituted by the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee on Tuesday cleared all aspirants who purchased and returned expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the September 3 primary elections to elect APC candidates for the October 31 concurrent legislative by-elections scheduled to be conducted across eight states of the federation.
Meanwhile, the Buni-led Committee has said there are no preferred, pre-determined or anointed aspirants for the primaries.
All the cleared 56 aspirants will contest the federal and state constituencies by-election to be conducted by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on October 31.
These were contained in a statement by the deputy national publicity secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena, in Abuja.
According to Nabena, the clarification became necessary in reaction to a statement by an APC Chieftain, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla alleging an attempt to “foist” a predetermined candidate in the forthcoming Cross River North Senatorial District by-elections.
The statement reads: “Under the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led caretaker committee, the Party is already moving in a new and progressive direction whereby things are done properly and internal democracy is the norm.
“The party will continue to give all aspirants a level playing field while also ensuring that only those with impeccable records and are popularly elected are presented as APC candidates in all elections.”
From the approved list, Imo North Senatorial district is leading the pack with 11 aspirants while Cross River North Senatorial district and Plateau South Senatorial district have 5 aspirants each jostling for the party’s tickets.
Bayelsa Central and Bayelsa West Senatorial districts have four aspirants each while Lagos East Senatorial district has only one aspirant.
From the array of the 30 aspirants for the senatorial tickets, three are females, with two from Imo North Senatorial district and one from Plateau South Senatorial district.
For the State House of Assembly elections, out of the 12 aspirants that procured the nomination and expression of interest forms for Kosofe State Constituency, only one aspirant returned his form. It was gathered that the aspirants reached a consensus to throw up the only aspirant that submitted his form.
Five aspirants are to slug it out for the party’s ticket for Ibaji State Constituency of Kogi State while four aspirants are pencilled down for Bakura State Constituency, Zamfara State and one aspirant each for Nganzai State Constituency, Borno State, Bayo State Constituency, Borno and Obudu State Constituency, Cross River State.
According to the statement, Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Ararume, Hon. Matthew Omegara, Senator Achonu Athanasius Nneji, Uchendu Maric Chijioke, Ibezim Chukwuma Frank, Uwajumogu Edith Chidinma, Uchenna Onyeiwu Ubah, Okoro Eze Joachim, Nwachukwu Bright Uchenna, Onuoha Chikwem Chijioke and Ihim Iheanacho (Acho) Celestine will slug it out for the Imo North Senatorial District ticket.
Ochicha Odey Anthony, Joe Odey Anthony, SAN, Harry Godwin Odey, Prof. Zana Itiunbe Akpagu and Fidelis Ebi Egoro will battle for the Cross River North Senatorial District ticket, while Capt. Matthew Karimo, Hon. Omonikeke Kemelayefa, Ebebi Peremobow will test their electoral strength at the Bayelsa West Senatorial District contest.
In Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Barr. Festus Dauniebi Sunday, Abel Ebifemowei, Timipa Tiwei Orunimigbe, Hon. Henry Daniel Ofongo and Godknows Bolaji Igali will square it out, while in Plateau South Senatorial District, Prof. Doknan Danjuma Sheni, Nanvel Nimfel, Prof. Emmanuel Joseph Daniyang, Nora Ladi Daduut, and Damian Dongnaán Shekarau were cleared to contest.
For Kosofe II State Constituency, Lagos State, it is a one horse race with only Saheed Wasiu Obafemi. The same is the case in Lagos East Senatorial District where only Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru is the aspirant.
NGANZI STATE CONSTITUENCY, BORNO STATE has Mohammed Ali Gajiradi;
BAYO STATE CONSTITUENCY, BORNO STATE – Maigari M. Abare; BAKURA STATE CONSTITUENCY, ZAMFARA STATE – Hon. Bello Dankande Gamji, Lawali Isa, Saídu Dan Bala, Sani Mohammed Yar’kofogi; IBAJI STATE CONSTITUENCY, KOGI STATE – Mathew Omachonu Eguche, Patrick Obwu Abah, Joseph Enemona, Jerry Omaiwala, Moses Emmanuel Commander, Atule Egbunu, Ogwu Harry Uba.
The OBUDU STATE CONSTITUENCY – CROSS RIVER has Dr. Agbor Godwin Adase as teh sole aspirant.