The All People’s Congress party (APC) presidential screening committee which consists of seven men has cleared each of the 23 aspirants screened on Monday. Below are the names of the 23 aspirants that have been given the go-ahead to contest the party’s presidential primaries to determine who would emerge as the party’s flagbearer for the 2023 presidential general elections:
Chief Emeka Nwajiuba, Governor Baduru Abubakar, Mrs. Uju Ken-Ohanenye, Governor David Umahi, Senator Robert Boroffice, Senator Ken Nnamani, Mr. Nicholas Felix, Dr. Tunde Bakare, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Mfr. Ikeobasi Mokelu, Ahmad Rufai Sani, Governor Ben Ayade, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Governor Kayode Fayemi, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Mr. Tein Jack-Rich, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Governor Yahaya Bello and finally, the Vice President Yemi Osibanjo.
The panel has disclosed that all the aspirants had been deemed electable and there was no reason to disqualify anyone. The clearing of the aspirants came as nerves were frayed over a plot by the governors’ to reject a successor the President, Muhammadu Buhari might impose on the party. However, President Muhammadu Buhari has yet to name his favorite candidate leading to a lot of aggrievances after a meeting with him on Tuesday 31st May 2022. There have been rumors about the President picking his successor only from the North. It has been alleged that a few aspirants from the South and some kingmakers are against the re-opening of the nomination after the screening was done by some Governors in the North.
It is said that five Governors in the North were behind the plan while nine Governors from the south were clamoring for a southern candidate. Nonetheless, it should be noted that the presidential primaries will be held in three days.
