The race to elect the next governor of Edo State moved a notch higher on Friday as the All Progressives Congress, (APC, confirmed that six governorship aspirants have bought, completed and submitted their expression of interest and nomination forms for the party’s June 22, 2020 primary election in Edo State.
In a release issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the APC named the aspirants as:
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, incumbent Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Rt. Hon. Dr. Pius Odubu, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Hon. Osaro Obazee and Hon. Matthew Aigbuhuenze Iduoriyekemwen.
The party further disclosed that in order to ensure due diligence and transparency in the screening exercise, and learning from recent rancorous experiences, it would avail party members and the general public the opportunity to see and verify the claims made by the aspirants in their submitted forms.
This, Mallam Issa-Onilu said, would help the screening panel in its assignment.
“Consequently, the various submissions will be displayed at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja and in Benin City, the Edo State capital from Monday 8th to Tuesday 9th June, 2020 for claims and objections,” the National Publicity Secretary further disclosed.
“We are inviting party members and indeed members of the public to assist the screening committee by scrutinizing the information, credentials and documents provided by the governorship aspirants and availing the Screening Committee of counter and correct information, if applicable.”
The scribe recalled that APC had, in consonance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, earlier released its time-table and schedule of activities for the conduct of the 2020 Governorship Primary Elections in Edo States.
Consequently, sales of nomination and expression of interest forms took place at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja between Wednesday, May 20 and Tuesday, June 2, 2020.Wednesday, June 3, 2020 was the last day for submission of completed forms and accompanying documents, Issa-Onilu added.
And while publication of claims and objections will run between Monday, June 8, and Tuesday, June 9, 2020, screening of aspirants will take place between Wednesday, June 10 and Thursday, June 11, 2020 respectively. Appeals arising from screening exercise will hold on Friday, June 12, 2020.
The primary election will hold on Monday, June 22, 2020, while election appeal has been slated for Wednesday, June 24, 2020.