We’ll be fair to all aspirants –APC screening committee assures
By Jude Opara, Abuja
Governor of Ekiti state and Chairman, Aspirant Screening Sub-Committee of the 2026 All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention, Biodun Oyebanji has assured all the aspirants to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party of fairness and transparency.
Oyebanji spoke on Monday during the committee’s inaugural meeting ahead of the screening exercise which holds in Abuja on Tuesday.
“We are going to be transparent. We are going to be fair. We are going to be just to all of them. They are party members and the party has guidelines that guide what we are going to do. We are going to do everything in accordance with the Constitution of the party and Electoral Act. So they don’t have anything to fear”.
Also speaking, co-chairman of the sub-committee and governor of Kogi state, Usman Ododo said the APC consider all the aspirants worthy of the assignment with a firm promise to carry out the committee’s responsibility without fear or favour.
Giving an insight into the operations of the Committee, a member of the secretariait and former Deputy Governor of Edo state, Comrade Philip Shaibu said they have taken time to group the members into three teams for the screening.
Shaibu added that due to the fact that the committee comprising 118 members is to screen only 30 aspirants, most of the members will not be involved in the exercise slated to take place at Transcorp. Hotel in Abuja.
He praised Oyebanji and Ododo for their financial support, even when they were yet to be mobilized by the party.
“We are really grateful to the governors of Ekiti and Kogi for helping us to operate even when we are yet to be mobilized by the party, but we have continued to work with their support.
“We have printed all materials and also hotel accommodations have been secured by the Chairmen”.
Shaibu urged all the members to take their assignment seriously, adding that it is a sensitive Committee because without the candidates, there will be no convention.
In his goodwill message, former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani while thanking the committee for a job well done, charged them to take the assignment seriously as the success of the convention will impact on the performance of the party in the 2027 general elections.
“We must all work hard to deliver on this assignment. We must not relax or think that we have won the election, we must work hard because Nigerians out there are going through a lot and we must encourage them to support and vote for President Bola Tinubu who has done so much to reposition the country”.
Also at the inauguration were former governors of Bauchi, Cross River and Kano states, Isa Yuguda, Prof. Ben Ayade, and Sen. Kabiru Gaya, as well as Sen. Osita Izunaso, amongst others.
