As the purported screening and disqualifying of some aspirants by the All Progressives Congress (APC) continues to gather momentum, the Edo State Chapter has said that no aspirants have been screened or disqualified from the governorship race.

It would be recalled that a six-man committee led by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Prof Julius Ihonvbere was set up last Monday by some leaders of the party to look into ways to prune the number of aspirants to a manageable number. The committee was said to have screened the number of aspirants to 10, then 6 and finally four, which is causing unrest in the party.

But the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Peter Uwadiae told journalists on Tuesday that the Ihonvbere committee was only an advisory committee.

He said, “There is no truth in the news making the rounds that governorship aspirants have been screened and about 25 have been disqualified. Based on the advice of the National Working Committee of the party, we set up a committee led by Julius Ihonvbere to interface with the aspirants on the need to reduce the number of aspirants to a manageable one. It is after the close of sale of forms that the NWC will set up a screening committee.

“The Committee also advised the Edo APC to be in a talking relationship with the aspirants so that those who know they cannot go all the way can exit the race. So no aspirant has been screened and disqualified,” he added.

Uwadiae also said that the sale of expression form, which costs N10 million and the nomination form, which goes N40 million were on sale for anyone who wants to vie for the governorship position on the platform of the party, noting that more aspirants are expected to join the race.

He said the party was going to the polls to win, urging members and supporters not to get agitated as the party believes in unity, fair play and democracy.

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