The All Progressives Congress on Saturday denied disqualifying 10 presidential aspirants.
The clarification was made by the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, when he addressed newsmen at the party secretariat in Abuja.
The screening report of the John Odigie-Oyegun-led committee had caused panic in the camps of the 23 aspirants.
The suspense was further heightened when the party and Oyegun kept mum on the 13 cleared aspirants.
While dousing the tension that was created following the submission of the screening report, Adamu disclosed that the 13 aspirants being touted as the successful candidates were only recommended as first-class materials.
“I want to say very clearly that no aspirant has been disqualified. It’s like sitting in an exam. Even if you pass there is grading from first-class to ordinary pass.
“So, no aspirant was disqualified. Incidentally, the president has invited all of them to a dinner today,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) is hosting the 23 presidential aspirants on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to a dinner at the state House, Abuja.
The President, who just returned from an Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on the political situation in Mali and other parts of the sub-region, meets the aspirants ahead of the APC convention where the party’s presidential candidate for next year’s poll will be elected.
In attendance at the meeting are Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Bola Tinubu, Governors Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Fayemi Kayode (Ekiti), former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Goodwill Akpabio, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, amongst others.
Daily Trust learnt that the meeting is to explore the possibility of producing a presidential consensus candidate before the primary scheduled to hold between Monday, 6th and Wednesday, 8th June in Eagle Square, Abuja.
The Chairman of the Screening Committee, Dr John Oyegun, had on Friday said 99 per cent of the aspirants were in support of consensus.
