Juliet Ezeh
As momentum builds ahead of its National Convention, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent and impartial screening process for aspirants seeking national leadership positions.
The party’s Screening Committee, inaugurated on Monday in Abuja, assured stakeholders that the exercise would be guided strictly by fairness, equity, and full compliance with established rules.
Chairman of the panel and Biodun Oyebanji, stated that the screening would align with the party’s constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, emphasizing due process as a non-negotiable standard.
According to him, every aspirant would be given equal opportunity, with no room for bias or external influence.
Providing operational details, Deputy Secretary of the committee and former Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu, disclosed that approximately 30 aspirants are expected to participate in the screening exercise.
He explained that the National Working Committee positions have been strategically divided into three categories, with designated committee members assigned to each group to ensure efficiency.
“The structure is designed to deliver a seamless and timely process,” Shuaibu noted, adding that the entire screening is expected to be concluded within a single day.
Reinforcing the panel’s position, co-chairman and Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, described the exercise as a critical test of the party’s commitment to internal democracy.
He stressed that the credibility of the process carries implications beyond party politics, touching on Nigeria’s broader democratic integrity.
Ododo also expressed confidence in the experience and capacity of committee members, noting that their decisions would shape the party’s leadership trajectory ahead of the convention.
With the National Convention scheduled for the weekend, the APC faces a tight timeline to clear aspirants for key positions—an exercise widely seen as pivotal to projecting unity and strengthening internal cohesion within the party.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.