The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly Aspirants Screening Committee has cleared 17 senatorial aspirants in Kogi State to participate in the party’s primary elections scheduled for Monday.
Among the prominent contenders is former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who will contest for the Kogi Central Senatorial ticket.
There had been speculation that Bello was not cleared by the screening committee, but the official list released on Sunday confirmed his eligibility, with his name appearing as number 13 on the list of cleared aspirants.
The former governor is expected to battle two other aspirants in the primary election — Momoh Yusuf Obaro and Mallam Ibrahim Yakubu Adoke.
In Kogi West, Senator Sunday Karimi has emerged as the consensus candidate following a stakeholders’ meeting chaired by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo at the Government House on Friday.
Although six other aspirants, including former Senator Smart Adeyemi and Aro Samuel Bamidele, were also cleared by the APC screening committee, political observers believe Senator Karimi is strongly positioned to secure victory at the primary.
Meanwhile, seven aspirants were cleared to contest the Kogi East Senatorial primary. Those cleared include the incumbent senator, Sen. Isah Jibrin Echocho, Joseph Erico Ameh, and Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, among others.
