The All Progressives Congress (APC), has announced its decision to reschedule the screening exercise of its presidential aspirants to May 23.
The Organising Secretary of the party, Suleiman Argungun, made this disclosure during the inauguration of the screening committee in Abuja, Saturday.
Argungun attributed the postponement of the screening exercise to the recent development which has seen some aspirants withdraw their aspirations.
In his words, “The screening for the presidential candidates we have so far 28 aspirants and as you are aware some aspirants have started withdrawing their aspiration and as such on the 23rd of May this month they will be screened.”
Argungun, however, revealed that screening of 145 governorship, 351 Senatorial, and 1197 House of Representatives aspirants would go on as scheduled between Saturday, 14th and Sunday 25th.
He also noted that the ruling party has put everything in place to ensure that the screening exercise goes hitch-free and in accordance with the guidelines of the party.
“We have so far 145 aspirants for governorship and we have constituted three panels to screen the governorship aspirant. And also have 351 aspirants that have also partake and returned the senatorial aspiration forms. While we have 1197 aspirants for the House of Representatives with 10 panels.
“The panels for the Senate are going to be four. In addition to that, we have the guidelines of our great party that will be given to each of the panels for screening and indeed the Appeal Committee.
“We also have a set of guidelines, an aspirant assessment and verification form that will be given to each of the committee for the screening, and also each of the panel will be given collections of the names of the form, expression of interest forms and the guidelines of our party, each of these for guidance,” he added.
Recall that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on Friday, dropped out of the presidential race.
Similarly, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a businessman, withdrew from the race on Friday.
Also, some groups bought nomination forms for former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, however, the duo have not yet accepted the forms as of press time.
Meanwhile, as of press time, former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President African Development Bank, Akinwunmi Adesina; former Minister of Science and Technology,. Ogbonnaya Onu; and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, are still in the race for the presidential ticket of the APC.
Others are the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio; former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha; and former Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Pastor Tunde Bakare; Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade; Ebonyi State governor Dave Umahi; Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; former Minister of State, Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; Jigawa State Governor, Badaru Abubakar, and former Zamfara State governor, Ahmed Yerima.
Also, Ajayi Borroffice, a serving senator, Uju Kennedy Ohnenye; Nicholas Felix Nwagbo; former House of Representative Speaker Dimeji Bankole; former Minister of State, Petroleum, Timipre Sylva; former Minister of Information, Ikeobasi Mokelu; and Tein Jack Rich are also in the race.
