Politics
FOR its today’s governorship primaries, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has cleared four aspirants.
Speaking with Vanguard yesterday, Secretary of the Screening Committee, Bashir Abacha, said the four aspirants, who appeared before the committee were screened and cleared to vie for the party’s ticket in Benin, the Edo State capital, today.
Abacha said: “We have cleared the four aspirants, they are all qualified for the primary election.”
The aspirants on Wednesday appeared before the Abdulrahman Abubakar-led screening committee, in Abuja.
The four aspirants are Peter Okoeguale, Sebastian Iyere, Balogun Engeeleyeme and Azemhe Azena.
The screening committee has Senator Abdulrahman Abubakar as chairman, Bashir Abacha as secretary, and Ladipo Johnson and Mustapha Alkassim as members.
Prior to the screening, the NNPP had pegged its interest and nomination forms at N11 million.
Addressing journalists in Abuja during the screening, chairman of the screening committee, Abdulrahman Abubakar emphasized the party’s interest in producing the next governor of Edo State and bringing the exemplary governance witnessed in Kano State to Edo.
The NNPP commenced its screening process on Wednesday, where candidates underwent evaluations on their academic records, National Youth Service eligibility, membership and voter cards, passport photographs, and other relevant information.
Abubakar had said: “We will be very much interested in whoever becomes our candidate. Our interest is that we should produce by the grace of God the next governor of Edo State.
“And the kind of governance example we are seeing in Kano State will also move to Edo State by the end of this year.”
One of the aspirants, Azemhe Azena, who serves as the Pastor in Charge of the Omega Fire Ministries in the Southern Region of Benin City, spoke confidently about his qualifications and close ties to Edo State, citing his presence in the community and his previous experiences in handling security matter within the state.
Another aspirant, Sebastian Iyere, who expressed his belief in the screening process and the competence of the NNPP officials overseeing it, acknowledged the desire for a candidate from Edo Central to emerge as the next governor, citing the zoning arrangement.
Iyere said: “There is indeed agitation for an Edo Central to produce the next governor. Fortunately for me, I am from Edo Central. So, going by the zoning, I would say I do not have a problem. But the NNPP as a party has its own mode of doing things, now it is left for the NNPP to make that ultimate choice. I’m here, driven by passion, sincerity, honesty and openness. I am here to turn Edo state into the industrial hub of West Africa.
VANGUARD
23rd February, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: Abdulrahman Abubakar Azemhe Azena Bashir Abacha NNPP Peter Okoeguale Sebastian Iyere
