From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has summoned all the 16 aspirants that purchased expression of interest and nomination forms for the April 20 Ondo State governorship primary election to appear before a committee at the headquarters of the ruling party on Friday for the screening of their certificates and other documents they submitted.
Curiously, the certificate submitted by some of the aspirants have been a subject of controversy following the petitions submitted to the party’s leadership.
The party’s national leadership had earlier segmented the appearances of the 16 aspirants into two days, but decided to lump them together on Friday due to the extention of the public holiday to Thursday.
In a short message from the organising department of the ruling party titled; ‘Change of schedule for aspirants’ screening appearances’, made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, the national leadership of the party disclosed that the exercise will take place at its national secretariat, the Buhari House.
“Due to the inclusion of Thursday, April 11th, 2024, as a public holiday by the Federal Government, all aspirants are requested to attend the screening on Friday, April 12, 2024. The venue remains national headquarters of APC (NWC HALL),” the message read.
Further explanation of the schedule revealed that the screening committee which will be inaugurated in the early hours of the same Friday will commence the exercise with the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, APC National Vice Chairman, South West, Duerimini Isaacs Kekemeke, and Olusoji Adewale Ehinlanwo, before taking a break to reconvene by 12.25pm.
On resumption from the break, according to arrangement, the committee will engage Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema, Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunso, Waheed-Adekojo Funmilayo, and Akinfolarin Mayo Samuel before taking another break.
Others to appear in the next batch of screening include Adewale Okumuyiwa Akinterinwa, Olusola Alexander Oke, Ohunyeye Olamide Felix, Morayo Lebi, Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan, while the last set to be screened are Francis Adebayo Faduyile, Omogoroye Folakemi Judith, Ifeoluwa Olusola Oyedele and Omo’Oba Okunjimi Odimayo.