APPEALS IN CORNER AS DELTA APC DISQUALIFIES 36 ASPIRANTS
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The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Party has disqualified 36 aspirants from contesting the party‘s House of Assembly primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The screening committee, which met on May 10 and 11 at the party secretariat in Asaba, cleared 46 aspirants while disqualifying 36 others over alleged irregularities, including bribery, document inconsistencies, and zoning violations.
The outcome was announced in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the Screening Committee, Dr. Uche Uzorchukwu, and the secretary, Dr. Chiedozie Nwafor, on Tuesday.
A total of 82 aspirants participated in the screening.
The committee listed reasons for the disqualification to include alleged inducement and attempted bribery of committee members, submission of unsworn affidavits, failure to present voter cards and party membership slips, conflicting dates of birth, and irregularities in nomination documents.
Other reasons include failure of nominators to confirm payment of membership dues, inconsistencies in names appearing on submitted documents, non-adherence to zoning arrangements in constituencies, and failure by some aspirants to resign from political appointments in line with provisions of the Electoral Act.
The committee also cited invalid and multiple affidavits which allegedly failed to disclose material particulars relating to certificates submitted by some aspirants.
The committee listed reasons for the disqualification to include alleged inducement and attempted bribery of committee members, submission of unsworn affidavits, failure to present voter cards and party membership slips, conflicting dates of birth, and irregularities in nomination documents.
Other reasons include failure of nominators to confirm payment of membership dues, inconsistencies in names appearing on submitted documents, non-adherence to zoning arrangements in constituencies, and failure by some aspirants to resign from political appointments in line with provisions of the Electoral Act.
The committee also cited invalid and multiple affidavits which allegedly failed to disclose material particulars relating to certificates submitted by some aspirants.
The committee stated that the screening was conducted in accordance with the APC constitution, guidelines and provisions of the Electoral Act.
It added that aspirants dissatisfied with the outcome were free to approach the party’s screening appeal committee.
“The screening committee in the exercise of her powers acted in accordance with APC guidelines, constitution of the party and Electoral Act,” the statement by the screening committee reads.
However, the outcome of the screening has generated tension in some constituencies, particularly areas where prominent aspirants were screened out.
Party sources told our correspondent on Wednesday that some affected aspirants were already consulting political leaders and legal advisers over possible appeals.
A senior party member, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, disclosed that several petitions were being prepared for submission to the appeal panel.
According to the source, some aspirants are alleging procedural irregularities, deliberate exclusion, inconsistencies in the screening process and manipulation by political interests within the party.
“There are aspirants who believe they were unfairly treated. Some are already mobilising documents to challenge the decision at the appeal stage,” the source said.
Another party source disclosed that reconciliation efforts had commenced in some constituencies to prevent aggrieved aspirants and their supporters from engaging in anti-party activities ahead of the primaries.
Efforts to get official reactions from some affected aspirants were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
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