Those screened were Ukele Ali, Musa Mubarak, Abdulraham Abubakar, Oni Sunday, Isah Yakubu and Sunday Momoh.
The screening committee chaired by Ajuji Ahmad also had Shehu Adamu (secretary), Maryam Yasin, Ladipo Johnson and Muhammed Auwal, as members.
Speaking at the exercise, Ahmad assured the aspirants that the screening process would be transparent and devoid of manipulation in line with the party’s stand on justice and fairness.
He said, “The NNPP is an open party, a fair-minded party and we take the opportunity to not just welcome but to also assure you individually that the process is going to be very transparent, open and objective.
“We assure each of you of fairness in our decision at the end of the day. It is not going to be our decision actually, it will be the decision of the National Working Committee.
One of the aspirants, Adulrahman Abubakar told newsmen that residents of the state would enjoy service delivery if given the opportunity.
According to him, the level of development in Kogi state bears no proportional relationship with the resource endowment, adding that he would change the narrative if given the chance.
“The screening went well. I have contested elections in the past and I won. By the grace of God, what has actually brought me into the contest is the pitiable situation of Kogi State.
“As it is at the moment, with the natural endowment, Kogi should be one of the top States in this country in terms of infrastructure development.
“The people are crying, workers and pensioners have not been paid. It is all stories of woes.
“Where I worked starting from the managerial level to the managing director and chief executive of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, we knew what we went through.
“The experience I gathered there is what I intend to put into use in Kogi state. It is to return Kogi State to the place of glory where the Almighty has already placed it.
“I think the resources available, even though are not surplus, are enough to put things in place if well harnessed,” he said.
On the zoning formula, he said: “Politics is a game of numbers. Go to Benue state, the Tiv have produced governors up till the present one. The Idoma has produced deputy governors.
“We will not run a government that will give preference to one area against the other. The only time you will talk of preference is in terms of population when you want to give things to people.”
Another aspirant, Ukele Ali pledged to alleviate poverty through agricultural transformation and technology deployment.
He said, “If elected, I am going to create prosperity for all. I am going to do it through agriculture, ICT, and the establishment of cottage industry.
“We will also venture into solid minerals and of course, security. If you do not have security, you cannot provide prosperity for the people.”
