The All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend confirmed that over 179 party members had purchased and submitted nomination forms for screening for National Working Committee positions.
The positions will be contested at the national convention slated to hold on Thursday, June 14th.
This was revealed by the Chairman of the screening sub-committee of the APC National Convention Planning Committee, Aminu Bello Masari, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, on Sunday.
Masari promised that his panel would adhere strictly to the rules and regulations guiding the convention.
He said, “The total number of aspirants nationwide is about 179, although specifically, I cannot immediately tell you their geographic spread.”
When asked whether his committee had disqualified any aspirant, Masari said, “It is premature for me to say. I think the report will be presented on Tuesday.”
As to whether the party would respect its zoning arrangement, the governor declared “you can only contest any position zoned to your zone.
“So far, those who applied for positions from the North-West are from the North-West, nobody from the North-East or elsewhere applied for the positions zoned to the North-West.”
Meanwhile, the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, inaugurated the headquarters of the Adams Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation, located at Aso Drive Abuja.
El-Rufai, however, declined when asked by journalists to comment on the task he handled.
Soon after the event, Oshiomhole told newsmen that the edifice was meant to provide a meeting point for his supporters to converge and rub minds.
He explained that his decision to contest the position was informed by his desire to give the party a new sense of direction.
In response to a question on whether he was scared of the calibre of persons contesting against him, Oshiomhole said, “In a boxing match, you don’t get heavyweights to go into the ring with featherweights.
“Their (opponents) involvement in the race will make the convention more interesting.
“I am working with everybody, my decision to contest the chairmanship was inspired by God using some of our party leaders; we want to run an all-inclusive administration.”
