Ahead of the national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the party’s appeal committee headed by Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has disqualified 19 aspirants. He  said 18 persons petitioned the committee.

Addressing journalists during the panel’s sitting on Saturday, Okorocha disclosed that 18 persons petitioned the committee against different positions including those of  National Organizing Secretary and National Woman Leader .The positions over which petitions were not received were those of  National Chairman and  National Secretary.

He said: “So far, we have about 18 petitions before us and we have 19 persons that did not make it at the screening level. These are the things we are looking at to see the merit or otherwise of their claims.

“If there is anybody who has been screened and there is a petition against him, we have power to uphold his qualification or disqualify him based on the merits of the petition.

“Of course, we have petitions against all other positions except that of the National Chairman and National Secretary. However, there is a general petition as to whether members of the NWC can be judges in their own case having supervised the congresses and now coming to present themselves for election. We are also looking at that.”

Speaking on the power of the committee to disqualify those already screened and who qualified, he added: “Yes, if you don’t make the appeal screening, then you are disqualified because there is no other appeal after this.”

He said his committee’s report, which would be used as a major guide in the party’s operations will be submitted on Monday, adding that any other appeal will come after the convention.