Isaac Samuel
The ruling All Progressives Congress has disqualified 47 senatorial aspirants from participating in its forthcoming Senate Primary Elections across several states of the federation.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC said the affected aspirants were not cleared by the party’s screening committees after the completion of the screening exercise conducted in line with established procedures and guidelines.
Among those affected are former Bayelsa East Senator, Ben Murray-Bruce, Senator Benson Agadaga, former Presidential aspirant from Rivers, Tein Jack-Rich, and former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Ipalibo Banigo.
Others on the list include aspirants from Adamawa, Anambra, Cross River, Delta, the Federal Capital Territory, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara states.
According to the list released by the party, Oyo and Zamfara states recorded the highest number of aspirants not cleared, with six and seven affected aspirants respectively.
The APC, however, did not state the specific reasons for the disqualification of the aspirants.
The statement titled “List of APC Senatorial Aspirants Not Cleared” noted that the screening exercise was conducted in accordance with the party’s guidelines ahead of the primaries.
