The Screening Committee appointed by the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, this newspaper gathered, screened 145 governorship aspirants for the  available governorship seats in the 2023 general elections.

Though the reports of the screening committees are yet to be made public as they were still being collated as at the time of filling this report, sources however hinted that the party leadership has begun a consultation before a final list of qualified aspirants for the party’s primaries is released.

It was further learnt that the consultation was to enable the party accommodate some critical political tendencies at the state level to enhance the party’s success at the polls during the next general elections.

The NWC, it was gathered, has embarked on the consultations with some stakeholders ahead of the party primaries that will produce its flag bearers in the 2023 general elections.

The consultations are designed to reach out to some critical leaders to produce a formidable and generally acceptable contestants for some elective offices across the 36 states.

Sources within the party said the party leadership may have resolved not to disqualify any of the screened governorship and National Assembly aspirants.

Aside from the behind the scene meetings, it was gathered that most of the leaders from some critical states were invited to the party national secretariat in Abuja for consultation while some aspirants after passing through the screening had to confer with the party leadership.

It will be recalled that Governor Abiodun of Ogun State, had a meeting with the NWC members immediately after submitting his nomination form.

Abiodun is facing political opposition from the State as some party members are praying the party to disqualify the Governor over an alleged criminal record in 1986 in the United State.

It is being alleged that Abiodun was arrested and jailed for credit card fraud popularly called ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ in Nigeria.

On Monday, a former governor of Gombe, Senator Danjuma Goje held a closed-door meeting with the National Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu and some NWC members.

Similar crucial meetings were held with immediate past Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen and Senator Bala Ibn Na’alla from Kebbi State.

It was also learnt that the visit of Governor Hope Uzordinma of Imo State to the party secretariat was not unconnected with a move to resolve the two contending tendencies in the state with a view to winning all the federal and state legislative seats next year.

HA source said: “The Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led NWC is poised to ensure victory at the polls next year and has embarked on wide consultations with some critical leaders at the state level.

“Today (yesterday) alone, two serving Senators, a sitting governor and a former minister were at various times in closed-door meetings to fine-tune and ensure a winning unity list ahead of the general elections.

“Though the party recognises the role of the governors, the leadership has decided to also reach out to some other leaders in some states that are critical to the party.”