Ahead of the screening of aspirants vying for national offices of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of its weekend National Convention, the party’s Aspirants Screening Committee has pledged to conduct the exercise in line with equity and the rule of law.
Chairman of the committee and Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, gave the assurance yesterday while inaugurating the panel in Abuja.
He emphasised that the screening process would be guided strictly by established procedures and institutional frameworks, reports The Nation.
Earlier, the committee’s deputy secretary and former deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu, outlined the operational template, disclosing that about 30 aspirants would be screened for various positions.
Shuaibu explained that to ensure a seamless exercise, the National Working Committee positions had been divided into three groups, with each category to be handled by designated members of the screening panel.
He noted that the decision to segment the screening was necessitated by the tight timeline allocated for the exercise in the convention schedule.
According to him, the arrangement would enable the committee to complete the process within the one-day window set aside for the exercise.
Addressing concerns over possible bias, Oyebanji told journalists after the inauguration that the committee’s mandate would not be influenced by personal interests, stressing that fairness and due process would guide its work.
“We are going to be transparent. We are going to be fair. We are going to be just to all of them,” Oyebanji declared. “The party has guidelines that guide what we’re going to do. We are going to do everything in accordance with the constitution of the party and the Electoral Act. So, they don’t have anything to fear.”
In his remarks, the co-chairman of the committee Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State, noted that the excercise is viewed as a critical litmus test for the party’s internal democracy, stressing that the panel’s work carries weight far beyond party lines, describing it as a “selfless service” to Nigeria’s broader political stability.
Expressing his confidence in the team — which includes veteran political figures like Senator Ken Nnamani — Ododo remarked on the historical significance of their task:
“Whatever we do now will be for generations to come. I am one of the beneficiaries of such foundations today.”
“This is not just about the APC; it is for the country. We have a mandate to screen aspirants who will lead this party effectively and efficiently.”
With the convention scheduled for this weekend, the committee is expected to work under a tight schedule to vet candidates for various national offices. The assurance of “fairness and justice” comes at a vital time, as the party seeks to maintain a unified front ahead of the elective exercise.
