Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki failed to appear before the screening committe for the Governorship primary slated for June 22 on Wednesday in Abuja.
Four of the six aspirants however participated in the exercise.
The committee verfied the credentials of Hon. Osaro Obazee, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Dr. Pius Odubu and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Obazee, Ogiemwonyi, Odubu and Iyamu took turn to appear before the panelists between 2pm to 6pm.
The verification was done behind closed doors with reporters barred from attending the screening session.
Obaseki, who is seeking for re-election, showed up on the first day of the screening exercise at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja, the venue of the verification at about 1:10pm.
He however hurriedly left five minutes after with a pledge to return for the exercise.
The chair of the committee, Prof. Jonathan Ayuba, told newsmen his committee was not a judical panel of inquiry but assigned to carry out verification of credentials submitted by all the aspirants.
Efforts by newsmen to get comments of the aspirants failed as none of them was willing to speak ready to speak.
As at the time of filing the report, committee members, journalists and supporters of Governor Obaseki, decked in a white T-shirt with inscription of his picture and a fez-cap were seen loitering around the party secretariat for his return.
The committee is expected to attend to the duo of Obaseki and Hon. Matthew Aigbuhuenze Iduoriyekemwen on Thursday before rounding off its assignment.
Obaseki attends ‘5 minutes’ screening at APC secretariat
By PM News
Governor Godwin Obaseki attended the screening of the aspirants for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in Edo.
The screening of the six aspirants for the ruling party began on Wednesday afternoon at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
According to reports, Governor Godwin Obaseki arrived at about 1:10 and left after five minutes.
However, the chairman of the screening committee, Prof. Jonathan Ayuba, said it was only to verify all the documents provided by the aspirants and make recommendations to the party based on its findings.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) had inaugurated two committees to examine the six aspirants contesting in the June 22 Edo governorship primaries.
One of the committees will screen the aspirants, while the other will handle appeals arising from the screening.
APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, inaugurated the committee on Tuesday at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
The screening committee includes Prof. Jonathan Ayuba, Prof. Agbo Madaki, Ibrahim Zailani, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed “Binani”, Dr. Jane- Frances Agbu and Fort Dike and Dr. Rabe Nasir, who will serve as secretary of the committee.
Meanwhile, the appeal committee has Prof. Abubakar Fari as the Chairman.
Other members include Prof. Sadeeque Abba, Barr. Gbenga Olubajo, Mohammed Idris, Esther Bepeh and Barr. Daniel Bwala, who will serve as the Secretary.
The screening of the aspirants will take place between June 10 and June 11.
The appeal committee will begin sitting on June 12.