The Governor Rochas Okorocha led appeal committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed disqualifying 19 aspirants in its forthcoming national convention.
He also said 18 persons petitioned the committee.
The governor, while addressing journalists during the panel’s sitting on Saturday, said petitions were received against positions of National Organising Secretary, National Women Leader and others except the positions of the National Chairman and the National Secretary.
“So far, we have about 18 petitions before us and we have 19 persons that did not make it at the screening level. These are the things we are looking (at) to see the merit or otherwise of their claims.
“If there is anybody who has been screened and there is a petition against him, we have power to uphold his qualification or disqualify him based on the merits of the petition.
“Of course, we have petitions against all other positions except that of the National Chairman and National Secretary. However, there is a general petition as to whether members of the NWC can be judges in their own case having supervised the congresses and now coming to present themselves for election. We are also looking at that.”
He said the screening committee report will be used as a major guide in the party’s operations, but did not disclose the names of the disqualified aspirants.
Speaking on the power of the committee to disqualify those already screened and who qualified, he said, “yes, if you don’t make the appeal screening, then you are disqualified because there is no other appeal after this.”
He said his committee’s report will be submitted on Monday and any other appeal will come after the convention.
