The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commenced the screening of aspirants seeking to contest for seats in the Lagos State House of Assembly as part of preparations for the forthcoming elections.
The exercise, which is a key stage in the party’s internal democratic process, is designed to ensure that only qualified candidates emerge through the APC’s screening and verification procedures ahead of the primaries.
The two-day exercise that commenced on Sunday at the APC Lagos Secretariat on Acme road, Ikeja, involves credential verification, eligibility checks, and compliance assessments for both incumbent lawmakers seeking re-election and new aspirants vying for tickets under the party platform.
Incumbent lawmakers were attended to first before the screening of new aspirants commenced. Many of the aspirants who participated in the process commended the party for what they described as a digitalized, organized, and seamless exercise.
A total of 184 aspirants are participating in the screening, reflecting strong interest in contesting under the APC platform in Lagos State. The exercise represents the second phase of the process following the earlier sale and submission of nomination forms.
Chairman of the Screening Committee, Borok Fomson, described the exercise as one of the best organized screening processes he has witnessed in recent times.
According to him, the Lagos APC chapter had already put adequate structures in place before the committee arrived.
“You could see that before we came on board, the chapter here had made adequate arrangements. They already put structures on ground and all we did was to fuse into what they had established, and everything is moving seamlessly. What is happening here is an attestation to the fact that the process is going very well,” he said.
Fomson disclosed that while 189 nomination forms were sold, 184 were returned, noting that Lagos ranks among the states with the highest number of aspirants in the country.
“We sold 189 forms and got 184 returned. I don’t know if there is any state with this large number. Considering the present economic realities, Lagos will certainly rank among the top states with the highest number of aspirants,” he added.
He emphasized that the APC remains large enough to accommodate all interests and urged aspirants to place party unity above personal ambition.
“The party is supreme. The party is bigger than any individual and bigger than any interest. More importantly, this is the home of our national leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. People should see the bigger picture beyond just emerging successful after the screening,” he stated.
Secretary of the Screening Committee, Nidi Sohotycp, also commended the level of coordination by the APC in Lagos State, describing the process as highly organized and efficient.
“The APC in general is a very coordinated party and that has reflected in what we have witnessed in Lagos State. The coordination by the party, especially regarding documentation for aspirants, has been impressive,” she said.
She further expressed admiration for the quality of aspirants participating in the screening exercise.
“I’m particularly intrigued by the quality of aspirants we have screened so far in Lagos State. They have been knowledgeable and impressive. APC truly has quality aspirants and we sincerely wish them the best,” she added.
Some aspirants who spoke with Lagos Panorama also expressed satisfaction with the screening process.
Incumbent lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I, Hon. Desmond Elliott, described the exercise as meticulous and commendable.
Similarly, Hon. Gbenga Abiola, an aspirant for Agege Constituency I, expressed confidence in the credibility of the process, noting that members of the screening committee were thorough and professional in carrying out their duties.
The former Sole Administrator stated that he was prepared to abide by the outcome of the exercise, stressing that the decision of the party remains supreme.
Also speaking, Hon. Ajala Ganiyu Olawale, an aspirant for Ikeja Constituency II, applauded the seamless nature of the screening exercise and commended the leadership of the party for ensuring a smooth process.
