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The national chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Ogbonnaya Onu warned the party’s presidential and gubernatorial aspirants screening committee not to clear any aspirant whose victory at the polls could be annulled by the tribunals or courts. He gave the warning while inaugurating the 21-member committee headed by a former governor of Zamfara State and Senate Minority Whip, Ahmed Sani.

The committee is expected to screen the party’s presidential and governorship aspirants ahead of its national convention slated for Friday in Abuja. “This screening is a very important one. We have selected the best people because the assignment is to show to the country that ANPP is serious,” Mr Onu said. “We want ANPP to make history. Our motto is justice and all aspirants will receive similar treatment. Any other matter, we should leave it to Nigerians to decide.

“All matters that will contravene our constitution please bring them out. We don’t want to win election that will be annulled in court. So we need the most qualified candidates.” Responding, Mr Sani noted that the task was a simple one promising that the committee members will be guided by the constitution of the country. According to him, “The constitution of Nigeria is clear on who should contest and who should not.

So, we won’t go outside the constitution.” He added that the committee will work on a zonal basis while retaining Abuja as the secretariat where any of the aspirants who wishes can come for screening.

Battle for Bauchi

Meanwhile, Garba Gadi, former deputy governor of Bauchi State yesterday returned his governorship nomination forms to the ANPP national secretariat. He recalled that as a founding member of the party, he has been committed to the success of the party and has on many occasions politely turned down overtures to him to contest for political offices until he finally agreed then to become the deputy governor. Mr Gadi explaining the reason why he refused to join his former boss in decamping from the party said that “I am committed to sincerity and other good that is expected of a leader that was why I refused to defect with the governor despite intimidations and persecutions.” “I told him (Mr Yuguda) you met me in my house and when you want to leave, good bye.” “Some people have said I am too slow to contest the governorship office and our Senator representing Bauchi Central, Senator Muhammad A.

Muhammad announced his withdrawal only if I am contesting and that he can only contest if I am not contesting,” Mr Gadi added.