* Gov Uzodimma unopposed in Imo
* Minister Timipreye Sylva, David Lyon feature in Bayelsa
* Smart Adeyemi, James Faleke line up in Kogi
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Saturday, screened 23 aspirants from Bayelsa and Kogi states ahead of its April 14 governorship primary elections.
The only aspirant from Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodimma, who was returned unopposed, appeared before the screening committee on Friday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fixed November 11, 2023 for the conduct of the three off-session governorship elections.
From Bayelsa State, six aspirants screened by the committee included the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipreye Silva, who will be slugging it out for the party’s ticket with David Pereworimini Lyon, his former protégé whose 2019 governorship election victory was upturned by the court.
Others at the Ladi Kwali Conference Center, venue of the exercise, were Ogbomade Isikima Johnson, Prof. Ongoebi Etebu Maureen, Festus Daumiebi Sunday and Joshua Maciver.
And from Kogi State, Deputy Governor Edward David Onoja was among the aspirants screened.
Others were Senator Smart Adeyemi, and Abdulkareem Asuku, Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello.
Also on the list of screened aspirants was the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka; son of the former Governor Abubakar Audu, Prince Shauibu Abubakar Audu; Sanusi Ohiare, former Executive Director, Rural Electrification Agency, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Salami Momodu O. Deedat and Usman Ododo, Auditor General, Local Government.
Also screened were the Chairman Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Crime, Senator Oseni Yakubu, Halima I. Alfa, Momoh Jibrin, Alhaji Yusuf Yakubu Okala, Hon. Asiru Idris, Prof. Stephen Ikani Ocheni, Abubakar Yahaya Achimugu, Idachaba Friday and David A. Jimoh.
Hon. James Abiodun Faleke was still being expected by the committee at the time of filing the report.
Addressing Journalists after the screening, Adeyemi admonished Governor Yahaya Bello not to become a tribal leader.
He said he made the call following speculations in some quarters that the Governor was working towards ensuring that his kinsman succeed him.
Adeyemi advised the governor to maintain the statesman status he used in conducting the affairs of the State and in the way he made appointments.