Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied disqualifying 10 presidential aspirants contrary to widely held insinuations.
The clarification came from the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, when he addressed newsmen at the party secretariat in Abuja.
Africa Daily News, New York gathered that the screening report of the John Odigie-Oyegun-led committee had caused panic in the camps of the 23 aspirants.
The suspense was further heightened when the party and Oyegun kept mum on the 13 cleared aspirants.
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While dousing the tension that was created following the submission of the screening report, Adamu disclosed that the 13 aspirants being touted as the successful candidates were only recommended as first-class materials.
‘I want to say very clearly that no aspirant has been disqualified. It’s like sitting in an exam. Even if you pass there is grading from first-class to ordinary pass.
‘So, no aspirant was disqualified. Incidentally, the president has invited all of them to a dinner today,’ he said.
In a related development, the Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru, has announced that he has dropped his presidential ambition, following agreement among 10 All Progressives Congress (APC) northern governors that the party should zone its ticket to the South.
Badaru’s withdrawal is contained in a statement on Saturday jointly signed by the 10 governors in support of a southern presidential candidate which was obtained by Africa Today News, New York.
‘We are delighted by the decision of our esteemed colleague, His Excellency, Governor Abubakar Badaru to contribute to this patriotic quest by withdrawing his presidential aspiration,’ the statement read in part.
This is coming as President Muhammadu Buhari met with all the 23 presidential aspirants on Saturday evening at the State House ahead of the party’s primary scheduled for June 6, 7, and 8.
