The All Progressives Congress (APC) will screen 23 presidential aspirants today ahead of the party’s June 6-7 presidential primary election.
A source in the party who spoke to WesternPost on the condition of anonymity, said the screening will take place at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.
Among the aspirants set to be screened are National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan and former ministers Rotimi Amaechi, Ogbonaya Onu, Godswill Akpabio and Chukwuemeja Nwajiuba.
Serving governors who are also listed for the screening are Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa).
Others are former Senate President Ken Nnamani, former House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole and serving Senators Ibikunle Amosun, Ajayi Boroffice, Rochas Okorocha.
President Buhari’s running mate in 2011, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Uju Ken-Ohanenye, Nicholas Felix, Ahmad Rufai Sani, Tein Jack-Rich, Ikeobasi Mokelu are also expected to face the screening panel.
Contrary to expectations in some quarters and the initial confusion over the exact number of aspirants in the race, as it turned out former president Goodluck Jonathan’s name is nowhere to be found on the screening list.
The APC had already shifted the screening exercise twice before arriving at today. The party is yet to announce the mode of choosing its presidential election whether it will be through delegate election or consensus. There had been rumours that President Muhammadu Buhari will annoint one of the aspirants .
Opposition Peoples Democratic Party on last Saturday elected its 2019 presidential candidate and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as the candidate for 2023 presidential election after a keenly contest primary election where Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike was a major challenger.