Tinubu Petition: Tension In APC As Screening Panel Delays Report

There is increasing tension in the All Progressives Congress, APC over the consideration of a petition against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the report of the screening of the 23 presidential aspirants has not seen the light of day less than four days to the convention.

The tension in the APC over the delay in the production of the screening report is coming in the wake of claims that the presidency is against the emergence of Tinubu as Buhari’s successor.

The party’s presidential aspirants screening committee, headed by a former National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, had screened the 23 contenders for the APC’s presidential ticket at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja between Monday and Tuesday.

Since the completion of the exercise, 72 hours ago, there has been tension among the aspirants and their supporters regarding the outcome of the exercise.

Daily Trust reports that the committee received a petition against the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.  

The petition was from one Sagir Mai Iyali, who claimed to be a member of the APC from Kano State. He asked the panel to disqualify the former Lagos State governor over alleged false documents he purportedly presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) previously.

Contacted yesterday, the screening committee’s Chairman, Chief John Odigi-Oyegun told Daily Trust that they were still working on their report, assuring that the public would be carried along when it is ready.

When asked via phone when the report of the committee would be ready, Oyegun said “I don’t know yet, we haven’t finished it. We are still working on it.”

The party had fixed its presidential primary for June 6, 7 and 8. Twice, the exercise has been postponed by the ruling party. There were reports that the June 3rd deadline fixed for the conduct of parties’ primaries was extended by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enable the ruling party to conduct its presidential primary.

No cause for alarm – Lawan, Yarima, Okorocha

Meanwhile, a cross-section of the APC presidential aspirants interviewed yesterday said there was no cause for tension over the delay in the submission of the screening report despite the lone petition against Tinubu

One of the leaders of the camp of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said the committee needed enough time to work on the report.

“Everything is going as planned by the party. The committee should be allowed to conclude its report and submit it to the party for necessary action,” he said.

On his part, a former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha said there was no cause for alarm about the delay in the completion of the Oyegun panel’s report.

In a phone interview, he said: “It is okay, the report will be out eventually, I don’t foresee any problem because of the caliber of the committee’s members. They are people of timber and caliber. They are not new in politics and elections. There is no cause for alarm.”

Another aspirant, a former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmed Sani Yarima, said “It’s a party matter; they are in the right direction, they are taking their time to ensure that there are no mistakes. There is still time, the convention is on Monday and the results can be released on Saturday. I have confidence in the committee.”

Source: With additional reports from Daily Trust

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