Obaseki fails to show up for APC screening of aspirants

Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki was a no-show Wednesday in Abuja before the screening committee for the governorship primary slated for June 22.

However four of the six aspirants participated in the exercise.

They were Osaro Obazee, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Dr. Pius Odubu and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Obazee, Ogiemwonyi, Odubu and Iyamu took turns to appear before the panelists between 2pm to 6pm.

The verification was done behind closed doors with reporters barred from attending the screening session.

Obaseki who is seeking re-election, showed up on the first day of the screening exercise at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja, the venue of the verification at about 1:10pm.

He hurriedly left five minutes after with a pledge to return for the exercise.

His supporters on Wednesday waited vainly for his return.

They were decked in a white T-shirt with inscription of his picture and a fez-cap.

It is however expected that Obaseki and Matthew Aigbuhuenze Iduoriyekemwen will face the screening panel on Thursday.

The chair of the committee, Prof. Jonathan Ayuba, told newsmen his committee was not a judicial panel of inquiry but assigned to carry out verification of credentials submitted by all the aspirants.

The panel will end its assignment today.