The All Progressives Congress (APC) Delta State Assembly Screening Committee has provided insight into the disqualification of the House leader, six sitting legislators and 29 other aspirants.
The screening outcome, which has generated widespread political reactions, saw the Leader of the House, Emeka Nwobi (Aniocha North), alongside Oboro Preyor (Bomadi), Bernard Odior (Isoko North), Bino Obawomano (Isoko South I), Frank Esenwah (Oshimili North), Emmanuel Sinebe (Patani), and Fred Martins (Warri North), disqualified from contesting in the APC primary election.
Key Highlights:
- The All Progressives Congress screening committee in Delta State disqualified the House leader and 6 other lawmakers for failing key requirements.
- Reasons included bribery allegations, missing voter cards, invalid party membership proof, and document inconsistencies.
- Some aspirants also failed to meet zoning rules, resign from political posts, or provide valid endorsements and affidavits.
- The committee said only 46 out of 82 aspirants were cleared, with the process guided by party rules and the Electoral Act.
- Despite this, the decision has sparked controversy, though appeals are allowed through party channels.
Their exclusion came as the committee announced that 46 out of 82 aspirants screened during a two-day exercise at the party’s state secretariat in Asaba, were cleared.
The committee said the exercise was conducted in line with the APC constitution and the Electoral Act.
Providing justification for the disqualifications, the committee, led by the Chairman, Uche Uzochukwu and Secretary, Chiedozie Nwafor, cited a range of infractions.
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These include inducement and attempted bribing of committee members, submission of unsworn affidavits, failure to present permanent voter cards, and inability to provide valid proof of party membership.
Other reasons advanced were discrepancies in personal records, such as conflicting dates of birth and inconsistencies in names across official documents, as well as issues relating to nominators, ranging from unpaid party dues to irregular membership details and insufficient endorsements from wards, contrary to party guidelines.
The committee also pointed to non-compliance with zoning arrangements in certain constituencies, noting that such actions could undermine the party’s electoral prospects.
Additionally, some aspirants were disqualified for failing to resign from political appointments as required by law, or for submitting questionable or multiple affidavits that did not properly disclose relevant information.
However, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, was among those cleared, emerging as the sole aspirant for Warri South-West Constituency.
Sixteen other members of the Delta State House of Assembly seeking re-election also scaled through the screening process.
Similarly, three former commissioners, Funyei Manager (Bomadi), Harry Trakirlowei (Patani), and Orode Uduaghan (Warri North), who resigned their positions were cleared.
Despite the committee’s insistence that the exercise was “transparent, credible, and meticulous,” the outcome has fueled skepticism among party stakeholders.
This is particularly against the backdrop of earlier claims that some aspirants were informally advised not to purchase nomination forms due to an alleged consensus arrangement within the party.
The committee, however, maintained that its decisions were strictly guided by party rules and the Electoral Act, emphasizing that only aspirants who met all constitutional and procedural requirements were cleared.
While congratulating successful aspirants, it urged those disqualified to utilize the party’s appeal mechanism if dissatisfied with the outcome.
“All aspirants and stakeholders are hereby notified of the outcome of the screening exercise.
“Any aspirant dissatisfied with the decision of the screening committee is at liberty to seek redress before the screening appeal committee in line with party procedures,” the committee stated.
