*End of rumour as Jonathan not among screened aspirants
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress’ presidential screening committee, Chief John Oyegun, on Friday said 99 percent of its presidential aspirants agreed to support a consensus candidate.
Mr Oyegun, a former Governor of Edo State and National Chairman of APC, made the remark while presenting the committee’s report to the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, in Abuja.
“We engaged every aspirant on the issue of consensus,” he told Adamu. “It is a pleasant surprise that 99 percent agreed that the party is supreme. And that whatever the party decides – with proper consultation – they will likely accept.
“Only one exception, who said I will accept consensus only if it is for me. I think it is a point that needs to be made and emphasised.
“So that gives you a lot of leeway in the hours ahead to trim down even more drastically.
“But finally we think we should not be afraid of a contested primary if anybody insists on a contest.”
Chief Oyegun had announced that it disqualified 10 out of the 23 aspirants screened for the exercise.
According to him, only 13 out of the 23 aspirants screened were cleared by the committee.
However, when asked about the identity of the disqualified aspirants, the former Edo governor declined to disclose the names.
He added that contrary to rumours making the rounds, it did not screen former president Goodluck Jonathan.
The committee held the screening exercise between Monday and Tuesday this week.
Cleared aspirants are expected to contest the presidential primary at a scheduled special convention in Abuja between June 6 and 8.
