APC appeal panel clears 11 of 50 unsuccessful aspirants

The Appeal Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has cleared 11 aspirants earlier disqualified from contesting the State House of Assembly primaries. The committee had reviewed 50 petitions submitted by dissatisfied aspirants following the release of the initial screening report by the party’s screening committee. A statement issued on Thursday by […]

The Appeal Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has cleared 11 aspirants earlier disqualified from contesting the State House of Assembly primaries.

The committee had reviewed 50 petitions submitted by dissatisfied aspirants following the release of the initial screening report by the party’s screening committee.

A statement issued on Thursday by the APC State Organising Secretary, James Ornguga, said the committee found 11 petitions meritorious and directed the affected aspirants to proceed to the primaries, while 39 others remained disqualified for failing to meet the required conditions.

The statement noted that the appeal committee examined petitions, supporting documents and oral testimonies before arriving at its decisions.

Our correspondent reports that members of the appeal committee who signed the report were Abubakar Lawal as chairman, Ade Adetimehin and Ahmed Murtala as secretary.

Earlier, about 50 aspirants contesting for seats in the Benue State House of Assembly were disqualified during the APC screening exercise conducted in Makurdi.

The screening committee, led by Avetu Ishiye, screened about 148 aspirants, with many disqualified over alleged non-compliance with party guidelines and constitutional provisions.

Findings however showed that most serving members of the Benue State House of Assembly who appeared before the screening panel were cleared.

Some of the initially disqualified aspirants included Wisdom Dominic from Otukpo/Ohimini state constituency, Ndiisaa Terhemen from Logo state constituency, Ologbo Edwin from Oju II, John Ogbu from Oju I, Patrick Ogwuche from Okpokwu, Ezekiel Elaigwu from Agatu and Dr. Ukan Emmanuel from Gwer East.

Others were Stephen Abanga from Ukum, Aondover Utsaha from Guma I, Shawo Aondoana from Kwande East, Agana Raphael from Oju II, Odeje Okoh from Ohimini, Agbeje Martins from Oju II and Uko Solomon from Gaav state constituency.

Meanwhile, Daniel Ihomun, loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, claimed that all aspirants from their camp were cleared by the screening committee.