The screening of the 13 presidential aspirants under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) began Monday, September 24 at 10 a.m. at the National Headquarters of the party, Abuja.
This is preparatory to the October 6 presidential primaries of billed for Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The screening committee is headed by Namadi Sambo, the former Vice President while Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom governor will serve as its Secretary.
Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Chief Tom Ikimi; Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, Hajiya Mariam Groma; Ambassador Kema Chikwe; Dr. Haliru Bello, and Chief Ebenezer Babatope are members.
The appeal committee is headed by Prince Uche Secondus, the PDP national chairman, and will sit on Wednesday, September 26, 2018, at the presidential campaign office of the party at Legacy House, Maitiama Abuja.
Senator Umaru Ibrahim Tsauri, will serve as the Secretary of the panel, while Yemi Akinwonmi, Senator Gamawa Babayo Garba, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), Emmanuel Enoidem, Adewale Aribisala, Alhaji Abdulahi Maibasira, Kola Ologbondiyan, Dr. Agbo Emmanuel, Mai Adamu Mustapha, Hajiya Mariya Waziri, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, Hon. S.K.E Udeh-Okoye , Chief Austin Umahi, Emmanuel Ogidi, Theophilus Daka Shan, Senator Ibrahim Kazaure, Prince Charles Akitoye, Prof A.B.C Nwosu, Dr. Peter Odili, Ambassador Polycarp Azige, Hajiya Zainab Maina, and Alhaji Mustapha Yar’adua.
The PDP presidential aspirants include Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President; Aminu Tambuwal, Sokoto State Governor; Ibrahim Dankwabo, Gombe State Governor; Dr. Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate; Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State; Ahmed Makarfi, former Governor of Kaduna State; and Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, former Minister Special Duties Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs.
Others are David Mark, former President of the Senate; Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State; Attahiru Bafarawa, former Governor of Sokoto State; Jonah Jang, former Plateau State Governor; Mr. Stanley Osifo and Dr. Baba Datti Ahmed.
The main opposition PDP also set up a presidential screening appeal panel to take care of issues that may arise from the presidential screening panel.
Meanwhile, Senator Saraki said to have been favoured by eight PDP governors in the country two weeks ago is leading other presidential aspirants in the polls, Straightnews has learnt.
As soon as Saraki defected from APC to PDP, he was named a PDP National Leader, a position that has placed him good stead to wield influence and call shots at his will.
In his Twitter handle, Ibrahim Babangida after the courtesy call on him the Senator endorsed Saraki because, according to him, his policies were hinged fostering the unity of the country. Investigation by Straightnews shows that of all the presidential aspirants, the Senator is the one who has visited Akwa Ibom State twice to lobby the state governor for his presidential ambition.
A PDP chieftain told Straightnews that Saraki is the man to beat in the race as he has spread his political dragnet and connections to all nooks and crannies in the country to clinch the party’ ticket in the Octber 6 primary. “He is the only aspirant who has come out to openly condemn the policies of the present Federal Government and some programmes of President Buhari’s administratio. He is very popular and has warmed himself into the hearts of his partymen,’’ another source stated.
