By joshua 
By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation
President Muhammadu Buhari may have received security reports on the 12 aspirants for the office of national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), according to indications in Abuja last night.
The reports, sources said, may guide Buhari in taking a final decision on the aspirants.
It was learnt that any of the aspirants undergoing probe for alleged corruption may be advised to step down.
It was gathered that the same security report might be passed to the 87-man Screening Committee for the convention, headed by Governor Abdulrahman Abdurazaq of Kwara State, to guide its activities.
The mandate of the committee, which has Senator Andy Uba as deputy chairman, was yet to be spelt out last night.
It was gathered that security agencies have interacted with some of the chairmanship aspirants.
Those seeking to be APC national chairman include the pioneer Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; ex-Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura; ex-Governor George Akume; Mallam Saliu Mustapha (Turaki Ilorin); Senator Sani Mohammed Musa; a former Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bawa Bwari; and the youngest, Mohammed Etsu.
Others are a former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdulaziz Yari; ex-Governor Ali Modu Sheriff; ex-Governor Isa Yuguda; Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi and Sunny Sylvester Monidafe.
Sources said aspirants with links to corruption or corrupt practices might find it difficult to secure clearance to contest.
Although some aspirants have not been put on trial or convicted, they have been quizzed by anti-corruption agencies.
One of the aspirants allegedly attempted to corrupt members of the nation’s first family.
His plot was allegedly resisted by President Muhammadu Buhari.
A source said it would be difficult for the affected aspirant, a former governor, to lead APC under Buhari.
The highly-placed source said: “I am aware that some security agencies have conducted checks and profiling on all the aspirants.
“In fact, some aspirants were invited for interaction by these agencies to clarify grey areas.
“From the interactive sessions, it was clear that some of them cannot go far in their aspiration to lead APC.
“The security agencies, which rated the aspirants on percentage benchmark, have submitted their reports to the President.
“Maybe the security report informed President Buhari’s alleged preference for one of the aspirants, ex-Governor Abdullahi Adamu.
“But I can tell you that the security report will play a significant role in helping Buhari and other party leaders to choose the next APC chairman.”
Some aspirants confirmed to our correspondent last night that they were invited by a few security agencies on their aspiration to be APC national chairman.
“We have heard that the security report has been submitted to the President,” a chairmanship aspirant said.
The Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the APC has set up an 87-man screening committee to check the background of all the aspirants for the party’s National Working Committee (NWC)
Those in the Screening Committee include Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Chairman); Senator Andy Uba (Deputy Chairman); Barr. Shuaibu Aruwa SAN (Secretary); Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe; Hon. James Faleke and Hon. Mojeed Alabi, among others.
A top party source said “the criteria for the office of national chairman and other posts might not be different from the conditions for eligibility to be a member as contained in Article 12 of the APC Constitution.
“It is left to the screening committee to subject all aspirants to the criteria with integrity as a major factor.
“At the end of its exercise, the committee can only come up with an advisory on the aspirants to enable the Caretaker Committee to determine whether to clear anyone or not for an office.”
Article 12(2b) says: “Pursuant to Article 12.2 (A) above, a registered party member shall be eligible for appointment into the Board of Trustees if he/she
i Has not been convicted by “a Court of Competent jurisdiction” for an offence involving fraud or dishonestly.
He/She has not been adjudged to be a lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind under any law in force in any part of Nigeria,
iii. He/She has not been adjudged or declared bankrupt.
Has not been dismissed from Public Service of the Federation; State and Local Government -Area/Area Council or Impeached/ removed from public office.
He/She is a person of proven integrity, impeccable character’ and verifiable track record of service to humanity in the country.”… Continue reading