Ondo gov.: Two aspirants set to contest disqualification, as PDP inaugurates Appeal panel

Two governorship aspirants in Ondo State have rejected their disqualification by the Peoples Democratic Party State Governorship Screening Committee and have declared their readiness to face the Appeal panel to be inaugurated today.

The chairman of the screening committee, Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara had on Friday disclosed that two of the nine aspirants failed the screening, though he refused to disclose their identity.

The Daily Times however, reliably gathered that both Otunba Bamidele Akingboye and Mr. Godday Erewa could not make the list of aspirants qualified to contest the July 22 PDP primaries in Ondo State.

Akingboye was said to have been disqualified on reasons of certificate, while Erewa was allegedly disqualified on the ground of not registering as a voter in the state.

The former Speaker, House of Representatives, said the committee after a painstaking, critical and analytical consideration of the claims of all the aspirants, had reasons to question the submissions by two of them.

Announcing the successful completion of the committee’s assignment, Dogara said “Unfortunately, in this case, I’m not happy to report this to you. But that’s about two failed the litmus test. But that’s not to say that they have been disqualified, because we don’t have the powers to disqualify anybody.

“There’s still the opportunity of redress at the appeal panel, which will sit on Monday. So if any of the two candidates that didn’t pass screening is entitled to launch that appeal from now onwards.”

The nine aspirants screened last Thursday for the  PDP governorship primaries were;  Eyitayo Jegede; Sen. Boluwaji Kunlere ; Deputy Governor, Dr. Agboola Ajayi; Dr. Eddy Olafeso;  Ben Banji Okunomo; Bode Ayorinde; Otunba Bamidele Akingboye; Mr. Godday Erewa and  Barr. Sola Ebiseeni

However, the Screening Appeal Panel for Ondo State nominated by the  National Working Committee (NWC) of  the  party, mandated to consider appeals arising from the screening of all aspirants for the upcoming 2020 Governorship Election in Ondo State, will be inaugurated today at the PDP national secretariat.

In a statement by the National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), Senator Gyang Istifanus Dung will chair the panel, while Hon.Uzoma Abonta will serve as Secretary.

Members of the panel include; Hon. Dayo Ogungbenro, Chief Austin Umahi, Chief Dan Orbih, Chief. G.T. Kataps, Hon. Theophilus Daka Shan and Senator Ibrahim Kazaure.

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Others are; Senator Kola Balogun, Princess (Dr) Bolanle Ogundiran, Hon.Rimamde Shawulu, Hajiya Hassan Dikko, and Barr. Mrs. Christine Akpan.