Ahead of the April 14 gubernatorial primary elections of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), 23 aspirants from Bayelsa and Kogi States have been screened by the party.
The only aspirant from Imo State, Governor Hope Obidika Uzodinma who was returned unopposed appeared before the screening committee on Friday. From Bayelsa State, six aspirants screened by the committee include the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipreye Silva, the 2019 governor-elect, Chief David Pereworimini Lyon, Ogbomade Isikima Johnson, Prof. Ongoebi Etebu Maureen, Festus Daumiebi Sunday and Joshua Maciver.
From Kogi State, the deputy governor of the state, Edward David Onoja, tops the list of screened aspirants. Others were the current Senator representing Kogi West and former National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Senator Smart Adeyemi, Abdulkareem Asuku, the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, son of the former Gov. Abubakar Audu, Prince Shauibu Abubakar Audu, Sanusi Ohiare, former Executive Director, Rural Electrification Agency, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Salami Momodu O. Deedat and Usman Ododo, Auditor General, Local Government.
Also screened were the Chairman Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Crime, Senator Oseni Yakubu, Halima l. Alfa, Momoh Jibrin, Alh. Yusuf Yakubu Okala, Asiru Idris, Prof. Stephen Ikani Ocheni, Abubakar Yahaya Achimugu, Idachaba Friday and David A. Jimoh, James Abiodun Faleke was still being expected by the committee at the time of filing the report. Addressing newsmen after the screening, Senator Smart Adeyemi called on the Governor Yahaya Bello of the state not to become a tribal leader. He said he made the call following speculations in some quarters that the governor was working towards ensuring that another Ebira man succeeds him.
