The All Progressive Congress, APC, in Yewa South LG area of Ogun State has shortlisted three chairmanship aspirants to Governor Dapo Abiodun from whom the Governor is expected to anoint a candidate for the forthcoming election.

The screening committee headed by Engr. Yinka Akintonde, according to the findings by HorizonTimes, screened seven aspirants, from the initial 14, who were graded based on criteria highlighted by the party.

Those who scaled through the screening process include, Barrister Abraham Ogunsola, Julianah Akintayo, and Muideen Akintande.

The State Party Secretary, Aderibigbe Tella, was reported to have addressed the gathering before the commencement of the process, reiterating the party's directive to shortlist at most three aspirants, in case a consensus was not visible.

He was quoted to have said that the mandate of the committee was to screen and not to conduct any election or voting process. 

It was gathered that the aspirants were screened based on their educational qualification, manifesto for the election, vision for the party, loyalty, amongst others.

After rigorous screening which lasted for hours, Ogunsola, according to the screening sheet accessed by HorizonTimes, came first with 278.5 mark, Akintayo came closely second with 275.5, while Akintande scored 258.

The State Party Secretary, including all other screening committee which included Odugbemi Rasheed, Fatai Olayode, Ayo Olubori, Aliu Ajibode and Yomi Soledolu, appended their signature on the screen sheet.

Trouble however started when a group reportedly loyal to the Senator representing Ogun West in the National Assembly, Solomon Olamilekan, insisted that only one name who should emerge through voting be submitted to the party.

A source who was at the venue of the exercise told HorizonTimes that the environment became tensed such that some members of the screening committee had to walk out of the venue following the completion of their mandate.

The Secretary of the Party, Tella, was reportedly prevented from leaving the screening venue while some thugs allegedly unleashed terror on one of the screened aspirants, Akintande.

Akintande was reportedly whisked away in the vehicle of the Deputy Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Latifat Ajayi.

The source said, "The committee was given a mandate to come up with a consensus candidate and when that's unachievable, two or maximum candidates should be submitted. The committee followed the instruction.

"The Secretary of the Party was also available and he said there's no voting, the aspirants should just be screened and recommendations made to the party.

"14 candidates came up but some stepped down and they were reduced to seven who were screened.

"There was no mandate to vote, no specific register of delegates or who and who to vote."

When contacted, the Party Secretary insisted that the party had instructed all officials not to speak with journalists. 

He said, "I am not empowered to speak to journalists as party Secretary, all the reports of what happened yesterday have been forwarded to the party.

"I am not going to comment, that's the instruction of the party, it is a directive of the party, I could have placed a comment if I am not a party official."

When asked to confirm his signature on the screening list, Aderibigbe said, "I can't tell you A or B about that primary because that's the instruction of the party."