Professor Success Musa, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) screening committee in Kwara State, says the large number of aspirants seeking elective positions reflects the strength of democracy within the party.

Mr Musa stated this on Monday when addressing APC aspirants during the screening exercise held at the party secretariat in Ilorin.

He assured the members of a credible screening process.

The chairman said that no fewer than 158 aspirants purchased nomination forms for the Kwara State House of Assembly election, describing the development as evidence of the party’s popularity and internal democracy.

“This is democracy, and that is what APC represents,” the committee chairman said.

Mr Musa also said that members of the screening committee were carefully selected based on credibility and integrity to ensure a transparent and seamless exercise.

He said that the committee was determined to avoid mistakes capable of jeopardising the party’s victory at the polls. 

Mr Musa recalled the experience in Bayelsa, where the party lost its mandate following a Supreme Court judgment over qualification issues.

“We do not want such a situation to happen again. That is why we are here to thoroughly screen all aspirants and ensure that all documents are in order,” he said.

The committee chairman assured aspirants that the exercise would be conducted fairly and urged them to cooperate with officials.

He also urged aggrieved aspirants to channel their complaints through the party’s appeal committee.

“It is not possible for all 158 aspirants to emerge as members of the House of Assembly. A few will emerge as winners, but APC remains one big family. We appeal to everyone to support whoever emerges victorious,” he said.

Mr Musa dismissed allegations that the APC was promoting a one-party system, attributing the increasing support for the party to the performance of President Bola Tinubu and the party leadership.

He urged aspirants and party members to maintain a peaceful atmosphere during the screening exercise and avoid actions that could provide opposition parties with grounds for litigation.

Earlier, the APC Chairman in Kwara, Mr Sunday Fagbemi, said the screening exercise was aimed at ensuring that all aspirants met the requirements needed to contest the elections.

Mr Fagbemi said that the party would not allow avoidable errors in documentation to undermine its electoral success.

“The process of obtaining nomination forms is over. The responsibility now lies with the party to properly screen and prepare aspirants for the election,” he said.

The APC chairman added that a screening appeal committee would commence its sitting immediately after the screening exercise to address aspirants’ complaints.

According to him, the APC remains committed to fairness, transparency and due process.

“It is not enough for justice to be done; it must also be seen to be done. That is what the party stands for,” Mr Fagbemi said.

He urged aspirants to conduct themselves in an orderly manner throughout the exercise, noting that all aspirants would be screened.

One of the aspirants, representing the Share/Oke-ode Constituency, AbdulRosheed Akogun, said the process has been open to all party members interested in flying the party’s flag.

He said, “It has been free and fair, and we hope the screening exercise will also follow suit by ensuring that everybody is given equal opportunity to participate in the primaries and possibly emerge victorious to fly the party’s flag.

“As we all know, the party, under the leadership of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has ensured inclusiveness, giving all party members, regardless of age or affiliation, equal opportunities to benefit from the party either through appointments or by contesting elective positions.

“So, expectations are high that the same spirit will continue to prevail. We also expect today’s screening exercise to be peaceful, orderly and fair to all aspirants.

“This will give the party the opportunity to select the best among the contestants to represent it. Whoever emerges as the party’s candidate will, by the grace of God, go ahead to win the general election.” 

(NAN)