Some governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming Edo State gubernatorial election may be forced to drop their ambitions, INFO DAILY has exclusively gathered.
This is as a result of some criteria put before them by a five-man committee set up by leadership of the party in the state to screen the 26 aspirants with a view to pruning the number.
Recall that INFO DAILY had reported that the APC suspended sales of expression of interest and nomination forms for the Edo State governorship election occasioned by a meeting convened by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole purposely to discuss the September 21st election.
At the end of Saturday, January 13th meeting, a five-man committee was set up by leaders of the party with the responsibility of interfacing with the 26 aspirants and pruning the number to a reasonable size, and coming up with a credible aspirant who will bear flag of the party.
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The committee was given Monday, January 15 to submit its report to leaders of the party during a similar meeting fixed for the same Monday.
At Monday’s meeting, a source and leader of the party told INFO DAILY that the five-man committee saddled with the responsibility of screening the aspirants and pruning the numbers, came up of some criteria as regards who is qualified to contest the governorship election on the platform of the party.
Some of the criteria given to aspirants of the party during Monday’s meeting were that anyone aspiring to contest the governorship election must have won his or her unit during the last general election.
In addition, he or she who wants to bear the flag of the party in the September governorship election must have evidence to show as regards he or she contributions to the party in the past years.
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Our source who pleaded that her name should not be mentioned said: “The five-man committee that was asked to screen the aspirants, the criteria they are looking for are: your unit results in the last general election; your membership of the party; your contribution to the party; your CV and your manifestos. These are the documents the aspirants have been asked to submit today (Tuesday, January 16.)
“After today (Tuesday’s) screening, it is expected that the committee would make its recommendations to national leadership of the party and stakeholders from the state in another meeting slated for Thursday.
“Hopefully, after the screening, those that are likely to make it are: Davide Imuse. He will make it because he won his unit, that I am very aware of. Apart from Imuse, other aspirants from Edo central lost their units during the last general election.
“Coming down to Edo South. General Charles lost his unit. pastor Ize-iyamu and Idahosa won their unit. But in Edo North, all the aspirants won their units,” our source disclosed