TheCable

The national working committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared Babatunde Irukera, an ally of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, to contest party’s primary poll in Kogi state.

A screening committee chaired by Hope Uzodinma, ex-senator representing Imo west, had previously disqualified Irukera who is the director-general/chief executive officer, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

The committee said the lawyer tendered an invalid declaration of age document.

It also said his nomination form was not “duly signed” and his academic credentials were not attached it.

But in a statement on Wednesday, Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC spokesman, said Irukera had met the party’s guidelines “for the nomination of candidates within the time granted to clarify his claims.”

“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared a governorship aspirant, Babatunde Ayo Kunle Irukera to contest the Party’s Kogi governorship primaries,” Issa-Onilu said.

“Babatunde Ayo Kunle Irukera successfully met the conditions provided by the Party’s guidelines for the nomination of candidates within the time granted to clarify his claims.”

The development comes hours after the party cleared five more aspirants for the gubernatorial race.