The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has screened 107 aspirants poised to contest the party’s primary election for the 27 seats in the State House of Assembly ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The disclosure was made by the Chairperson of the State Screening Committee (SSC), Judith Inamoto, at the party’s secretariat on Okigwe Road, Owerri, after the completion of the exercise.
“I, together with other members of the committee, are here on a national assignment. We were sent here to screen the aspirants for the House of Assembly in the state,” Inamoto said.
She added that members of the committee, alongside the Appeals Committee, arrived in the state and swung into action immediately.
Inamoto disclosed that the exercise took the committee two days to complete, noting that 36 aspirants were screened on the first day, while 71 were screened the following day.
She explained that the exercise was aimed at clearing the aspirants to enable them participate in the party primary, which will produce 27 candidates for the main electoral contest.
Responding to questions on the number of aspirants who scaled through and those who did not, the chairperson said the information would be contained in the committee’s report.
She, however, described the exercise as transparent, adding that the aspirants were satisfied because everything was made open to them.
One of the aspirants, Prince Osinachi Amako, who is contesting for the Owerri West State Constituency seat, described the exercise as peaceful, maintaining that the APC is getting stronger.
Amako added that apart from the primary responsibility of making laws, he had already laid down plans for empowerment packages for people of his constituency, which would commence as soon as he emerges as a House member.
He also promised to extend an olive branch and carry other aspirants along if he eventually wins the primary election.