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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified no fewer than 47 senatorial aspirants across the country from participating in today’s primary to elect candidates for next year’s general elections.
According to a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the disqualification is based on the report of the party’s screening committees in accordance with established procedures and guidelines.
Among prominent figures affected by the disqualification are former Bayelsa East senator Ben Murray-Bruce, former Senate aspirant for the Federal Capital Territory Usman J. Wowo, and Rivers politician Tamunobaabo Wemike Danagogo.
Others on the list include aspirants from Adamawa, Anambra, Cross River, Delta, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara states.
The statement disclosed that while Zamfara recorded the highest number of disqualified aspirants, totalling seven, Niger State trailed with six affected aspirants, just as Plateau had five. Kwara and Nasarawa had four each, while Bayelsa and Taraba had three disqualified aspirants apiece.
In Adamawa North, the party could not clear Hamish Idris and Abdurman Kwacham, while in Bayelsa East, both Ben Murray-Bruce and Sen. Benson Agadaga were disqualified.
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The national leadership of the ruling party equally disqualified several aspirants from Oyo State, including Ademola Wasiu Alli, Ajimobi Wasiu Adegboyega, Kolapoboye Kola Daisi and Akinremi Alade Bolaji.
In Rivers State, those disqualified, believed to be loyalists of the state governor, Sim Fubara, are Oyukaye Flag Amachree, Tamunobaabo Wemike Danagogo, Jack-Rich Tein and Banigo Ipalibo.
Zamfara recorded the highest number of disqualified aspirants, with seven aspirants from the Central, North and West senatorial districts failing to secure clearance.
The party stated that the screening exercise was conducted in accordance with its internal guidelines and procedures but did not disclose specific reasons for the disqualification of the affected aspirants.
It remains to be seen whether the disqualified aspirants will participate in the primary election, considering the drama in which some disqualified House of Representatives aspirants, particularly in Kogi State, eventually emerged winners during last weekend’s exercise.
The APC hereby releases the list of senatorial aspirants not cleared to participate in the party’s Senate primary elections.
Justifying its decision, the ruling party stated, “The screening exercise was conducted by the Party’s Screening Committees in accordance with established procedures and guidelines.”
