The All Progressives Congress (APC) has kick-started the screening of the five aspirants currently running for its platform’s presidential ticket in the 2015 general elections.
Sam Nda-Isaiah, publisher of Leadership Newspapers was the first aspirant to appear before the nine-man committee headed by former Abia State Governor, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu on Tuesday.
Ahaji Atiku Abubakar, Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rochas Okorocha of Kano and Imo State respectively, and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) are also scheduled to face the panel after Nda-Isaiah.
The screening committee also included Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jida, Dr. Sam Jaja, Senator Bukola Saraki, Tom Maiyashi, Prof. A. Agbonlahor and Ambassador Fatai.
Before beginning the process, Onu told the aspirants that his committee will watch out for the extent of each aspirant’s conformity with the written rules of the party and the constitution of the Nigeria constitution and the Electoral Act as a yard stick for the screening.
Onu said the aspirants would also be screened based on the workability of the solutions they proffer to the urgent needs of the country in the area security, economy, job creation, foreign policy and corruption.
“APC wants to produce a candidate that will effect change in the country and capable of addressing the problems confronting Nigeria,” Onu said. “It is only those we deem qualified that will emerge successful at the end of the exercise.”
He assured the aspirants that by Wednesday, the committee will present certificate to those who scaled through the exercise.
As part of the screening exercise, aspirants will commit themselves to accept the outcome of the convention that will be used to choose the eventual candidate of the party as well as rules and regulations of APC, Onu further revealed.
“We would also want every aspirant to give us a commitment that at the end of the national convention, when the candidate emerges, all others will support that person and will support the party to ensure that the party is successful in the presidential election of 14th February 2015,” Onu said.
