The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared the 28 gubernatorial aspirants seeking to fly its ticket at the forthcoming Kogi State gubernatorial election.
The party assured that it will win the Kogi gubernatorial election come November and warned all aspirants to shun violence before the process.
APC National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, who spoke yesterday in Abuja said the high number of aspirants intending to go for the state primaries is an indication that the state was ripe for APC, adding that having won the three senatorial seats, six out of the nine House of Representatives seats and contributed a 75 per cent margin in the last presidential election, the state had fully embraced the party.
Those cleared to partake in the August 29 primaries include a former governor of the state, Prince Abubakar Audu; Alhaji Yahaya Bello; Senator Alex Usman Kadiri; Hussein Idris Kashim; Alh. Sanusi Abubakar Aliyu; Senator Nicholas Yahaya Ugbane; Sani Halilu Shuaibu; Suleman Baba Ali; AVM Saliu Atawodi; Muhammad Abdullahi; Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman; the only female contestant, Princess Hadiza Ibrahim; Yakubu Mohammed; a former acting governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Clarence Olafemi; and Suleiman Ejeh Abutu.
Other are: Sunday Ejibo; Otunba Suleman Lanre Ipinmisho; Dr. Tim Nda Diche; Habeeb Abdullahi Yakeen; Rotimi Yakub Obadofin; Babatunde Irukera; Barr. Ocholi Enojoh James; Aliyu Zakari Jiya; Engr. Olushola George Olumoroti and Dr. Onukaba Adinoyi- Ojo. "The committee went into details in the screening process and has cleared all 28 aspirants. You are required to sign an undertaken. It is not compulsory, it is optional but it is in your own interest," Izunaso said
"The situation where we have 28 aspirants is a good omen for our party what it means is that people of Kogi State believe in our party, Kogi is APC and APC is Kogi State. And I’m glad to note that of all the 28 aspirants have qualified. What it means is that within this number that we are seeing here, the next governor of Kogi State is here with us.
"In the next couple of months, one of you here will be so addressed as his excellency, the governor of Kogi State. That is why we want you to be law abiding and good members of APC."