Aspirants protest, refuse to step down after obtaining N6m form

Aspirants vying for tickets of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the Edo State House of Assembly elections have rejected moves for consensus arrangements, insisting they would not step down after spending millions of naira to obtain nomination forms.

The aspirants said having paid N6 million each for nomination and expression of interest forms, they were determined to pursue their ambitions to the end.

They made their positions known on Friday when they appeared before the party’s Screening Committee chaired by Emmanuel Okoebor.

A total of 84 aspirants purchased the forms, a development expected to rake in about N504 million for the APC from the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms.

At the screening venue located at the Edo APC secretariat, serving members of the Edo State House of Assembly arrived in a coaster bus and were the first to undergo accreditation and verification of credentials.

The lawmakers were reportedly asked to simply take a bow and leave after their verification.

Other aspirants stormed the venue in the company of party leaders and supporters, while heavy security presence was deployed to maintain order throughout the exercise.

Speaking during the screening, Okoebor said the process was aimed at ensuring that only qualified and credible aspirants participated in the party’s primaries.

He assured contestants of transparency and fairness, noting that the committee would conduct the exercise in accordance with the APC constitution and electoral guidelines.

Some of the aspirants, who spoke anonymously, insisted they would not withdraw from the race or accept any consensus arrangement despite pressure from some party stakeholders.

They, however, commended the peaceful and orderly conduct of the screening exercise.