• Uzodimma, Sylva, Lyon, Adeyemi, Ohiare, others appear before party
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Ahead of next month April 10 party primaries for Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states governorship elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday in Abuja, commenced the screening of the aspirants for the states.
Already, the Screening Committee has attended to 24 aspirants vying for the tickets of the party for the November 11, governorship election, including Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, who is contesting unopposed.
From Bayelsa State, six aspirants screened by the committee include the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, and his former protege and 2019 governor-elect, David Pereworimini Lyon.
Others at the venue of the exercise were Ogbomade Isikima Johnson, Ongoebi Etebu Maureen, Festus Daumiebi Sunday and Joshua Maciver.
Aspirants from Kogi that were screened included the Deputy Governor of the state, Edward David Onoja, Senator representing Kogi West, Smart Adeyemi and Abdulkareem Asuku, the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello.
Others were, APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka; son of Prince Abubakar Audu, Shauibu Abubakar Audu; Sanusi Ohiare, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Salami Momod Deedat; and Usman Ododo, Auditor General, Local Government.
Also screened were the Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Crime, Oseni Yakubu, Halima l. Alfa, Momoh Jibrin, Yusuf Yakubu Okala, Asiru Idris, Stephen Ikani Ocheni, Abubakar Yahaya Achimugu, Idachaba Friday and David Jimoh.
James Abiodun Faleke was still being expected by the committee at the time of filing this report.
Addressing journalists after undergoing his screening, former Executive Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Sanusi Ohiare, said that it was time for someone with his kind of skill to come in and consolidate on what Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has done.
He said that though he was not looking down on other aspirants, his profile dwarfed those of the other contestants gunning for the ticket of the Kogi Government House.
Also responding after his screening, the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Smart Adeyemi, urged the governor of the state, Bello, not to become a tribal leader.
He said the call became imperative following speculations in some quarters that Bello was working towards ensuring that an Ebira man succeeds him.
He said: “Okun West in the last 30 years, we have not produced a governor. And we are not conquered, we are not slaves. So, we are eminently qualified to govern our state.”
Adeyemi said that it was important for any political party, including the APC, to zone the governorship ticket to Kogi West.
The lawmaker said there was no doubt that he is eminently qualified to govern the state considering his wealth of experience.