The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday inaugurated its Screening and Screening Appeal Committees for the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship election.
The committee was chaired by Tunji Olawuyi, a third-term member of the House of Representatives, insisting that the exercise would be guided strictly by party rules without preferential treatment for any aspirant.
Olawuyi, who represents Kwara State and chairs the House Committee on the North Central Development Commission, was appointed chairman of the Screening Committee. Speaking after the inauguration, he said the assignment was crucial to ensuring that the party fields a candidate whose credibility cannot be questioned.
Olawuyi said, “Our assignment is very simple: to verify and check all documents submitted by the aspirants, to make sure our party presents a credible candidate at the election.
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“We won’t want our candidate to get to INEC before such issues are discovered. On a good note, I am very happy for this assignment, and as a loyal party member, I promise we will deliver on all fronts.”
Responding to suggestions that APC governors often enjoy special treatment, the lawmaker dismissed the claim.
He added, “That is not correct. So far, before now and immediately after the inauguration, nobody has called me to give me any instructions. I have just been given the party’s guidelines.”
“I have contested three successful elections and passed through screening myself. So this is going to be our guide, there is no special consideration,” he stressed.
The lawmaker further explained that although the screening was scheduled to begin immediately, it was shifted due to the ongoing public hearing on the Constitution review in Abuja, where some committee members and aspirants were engaged.
Olawyi noted, “Honestly, we wanted to start today, but as we are all aware, there is a serious national assignment.
“Most of our people who are supposed to participate in the screening and even some of the aspirants have one or two things to do at the Constitution review hearing.”
“So, as early as possible tomorrow, we will commence. We just have four aspirants, two will be screened tomorrow and the other two the next day, and we are done,” Olawuyi explained.
