Ahead of the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has raked in N650m from the sale of Nomination and Expression of Interest forms to 13 aspirants.
The PUNCH learnt that all efforts by the APC to reduce its governorship aspirants to six failed as 13 persons eventually bought the forms which closed on Monday.
The APC Nomination Form was sold for N40m, while the Expression of Interest Form was N10m. However, the party made the Expression of Interest Form free for female aspirants and those with disabilities.
According to a schedule of activities for the Edo governorship election released by the APC, the sale of Nomination and Expression of Interest and Delegates Forms ended on 29 January.
The APC will elect its flag bearer for the governorship race at a primary election to be held on February 17.
The APC had set up a committee as an internal mechanism to screen and prune down the 29 aspirants who initially showed interest to a manageable level to ensure a rancour-free primary election.
Consequently, the committee pruned the number of aspirants from 29 to 10, and subsequently to six, with two aspirants from each of the three senatorial districts. It further pruned the list to four with two each from Edo Central and Edo South senatorial districts, screening out those from Edo North senatorial district.
However, most of the aspirants rejected the decision and rather went ahead to purchase the forms.
Checks on Monday by our correspondent revealed that, as of press time, 13 aspirants had purchased the forms at N50m each at the APC national headquarters, 40 Blantyre Street, Wuse, Abuja.
The aspirants who have purchased the forms are a former Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba; a two-term governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu; a former Edo State Governor, Oserheimen Osunbor and ex-Chairman of the APC Edo State, Dr. David Imuse.
Others are Emmanuel Momoh, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Dennis Idahosa, Lucky Imasuen, Blessing Agbomore, Hon. Anamero Dekeri, Gideon Ikhine, Col. David Onabure Imuse and Maj. Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (retd.).
The APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, assured aspirants of fairness and a level playing field.
Ibrahim, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, stated “Our aspirants and stakeholders in Edo should expect fairness and nothing but fairness; there is going to be a level playing field for all because our ambition is to recapture Edo State.
“So the party will screen all those who have bought the forms and indicated interest. And they are going to be given a level playing field so that they bring in their best with a view to getting the people of Edo to buy in. So, they should expect fairness and we hope in return, they will also be fair.”
Regarding the unsuccessful pruning effort, the APC Director of Publicity stated that the aspirants would undergo screening, and only those meeting the necessary criteria would be eligible to vie for the party’s ticket.
“Well, buying form is just one of the many stages of going into the election. One is to indicate interest by way of buying form. Other stages will follow where those who indicate interest will be screened. The party is not just looking at the purchase of form as the only condition for contesting the election. No. Certain things have to be met for the intendant contenders to be eligible for the election. So other stages will be set out,” he stated.
