The All Progressives Congress, APC, is now set for its scheduled February 17 governorship primary election to pick its standard bearer for the September 21, 2024 poll.
This followed the outcome of the screening and pruning exercise by the Hon Julius Ihonvbere-led panel that was emplaced for the purpose of recommending aspirants for participation in the scramble for the party ticket.
The panel on Thursday night achieved a list of six aspirants after it had, at first, reportedly scaled down the number to ten from 29.
The list, as learnt, comprises, from Edo North, the immediate past minister of state for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba and a retired permanent secretary in the Federal Civil Service, Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe; from Edo Central, serving Senator Monday Okpebholo and the immediate past State Chairman of the APC, Col David Imuse [retd]: and from Edo South, a serving member of the House of Representatives, Hon Dennis Idahosa and a former Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasuen.
Barring any last-minute change (s) in plans, the party is expected to formally announce this outcome today Friday.
Recall that an unwieldy number of 29 aspirants had initially set sail for the party’s ticket, even though not all of them had procured the expression of interest and nomination forms before the party temporarily suspended the sale of forms to explore the possibility of a consensus candidate.
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Only Prince Agba had on Day One of the exercise procured the forms on payment of N50 million before the temporary halt. But, with the latest development, the other five aspirants have been okayed to go ahead to procure their expression of interest and nomination forms.
Some of the aspirants may express their reservations over their being screened out of the process even if they would not take steps that would undermine the integrity and footing of the screening and pruning process, which is in the interest of the party: to secure victory in the September 21, 2024 governorship poll.
The idea to prune the number was mooted by the party leadership to achieve a small size of aspirants in the context of ease of managing the potential fallout from the primary election.
“It is much easier to negotiate with and manage a small number than a crowded field. There will be horsetrading, expectedly, and the party will do well to take a decision as to a process that will be acceptable to the aspirants and their numerous supporters.
“We want to be able to forge a united front going into the crucial governorship poll on September 21, this year. The APC must put forward our best candidate who is capacitated enough to trump the best of te PDP and the Labour Party,” an APC chieftain had said in a chat with our reporter.
Recall that the party had been disposed to streamline the field to have a small size of aspirants jostle for the party ticket. Consequently, the three zones, as agreed, were to be represented in the primary election by two aspirants each, taking into consideration the principles of equity and equality of zones.
