There is palpable tension in Lokoja the Kogi State capital as delegates offer the All Progressives Congress (APC) gather to elect their party’s standard bearer for the November 16 governorship election.
Build up to the shadow election has been tension soaked especially as the state is known to be volatile during any type of election. This was worsened in the last few days by the disqualification of most of the aspirants by the party’s screening committee.
Up till Wednesday some aspirants did not know their faith after the party’s national working committee headed by Adams Oshiomohle issued what it said as the last set of cleared aspirants raising the number from a paltry four to mine.
Late in the day, another aspirant Babatunde Irukera was cleared. He is an ally of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Others like former Chief of Naval Staff Usman Jubrin, the Audu brothers among others remain disqualified. All the cleared aspirants are now in Lokoja. Hotels in and around Lokoja even up to Okene had been fully booked.
More details soon.