The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified 14 aspirants seeking to contest the House of Representatives primary elections ahead of the party’s forthcoming primaries.
In a statement the party said the affected aspirants participated in its screening exercise but were not cleared by the screening committees constituted in line with party procedures and guidelines.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) hereby releases the list of House of Representatives aspirants who participated in the screening exercise but were not cleared to participate in the House of Representatives Primary Election,” the statement read.
The statement, signed by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, revealed “the screening exercise was conducted by the Party’s Screening Committees in line with established procedures and guidelines.”
Among the aspirants listed as “not cleared” are former lawmakers and political figures including Boma Goodhead, Anderson Allison Igbiki, and retired Air Commodore John Azubuike Opara.
The APC list showed that seven aspirants from Ondo State were affected. They include Hon. Adefisoye Tajudeen for Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency; Olusegun Victor Ategbole and Seun Oluwashina Ajongbolo for Akoko South-East/South-West; Rt. Hon. Arowole Ayodeji Samuel for Owo/Ose; as well as Morufu Tosin Ibrahim, Oseni Oyeniyi, and Olaleye John Adedipe for Akoko North-East/North-West Federal Constituency.
Others disqualified are Dr. Bashir Ibrahim Bello from Bauchi State for Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency; Hon. Idu Igariwe from Ebonyi State for Afikpo-Edda Federal Constituency; and Sanni Salau Ogembe from Kogi State for Okene/Ogori-Magongo Federal Constituency.
In Rivers State, the party disqualified Air Commodore John Azubuike Opara (Rtd) for Port Harcourt Federal Constituency, Hon. Anderson Allison Igbiki for Okrika/Ogu/Bolo, Awaji Imombek D. Abirite for Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro, and Hon. Boma Goodhead for Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru Federal Constituency.
“The screening exercise was conducted by the Party’s Screening Committees in line with established procedures and guidelines,” the APC reiterated in the statement.
The party, however, did not disclose specific reasons for the disqualification of the aspirants.