PDP Screens 48 Aspirants For Governorship In S’West, S’East

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday began the screening of governorship aspirants for next year’s elections.

Mixed reaction by contestants trailed the process across the six geo-political zones.

Eleven aspirants from Oyo, Lagos and Ogun states appeared before the PDP screening panel at the Zonal Office, Ibadan.

The committee is headed by Sen. Ahmed Makarfi.

Ogun aspirants are Segun Sowunmi, Ladi Adebutu and Jimi Lawal.

Governor Seyi Makinde and Hazeem Gbolarumi are from Oyo State.

Lagos aspirants are Shamsideen Dosumu, AbdulAzeez Adediran, David Kolawole, Jimi Karmal, Adedeji Doherty and Rhodes Gbadebo.

37 Aspirants In Southeast

Former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu was among the 37 aspirants from Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu states at the party’s zonal office for the process in Enugu.

Aspirants from Ebonyi are: Fide Nwankwo; Chris Usulor; Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii (Anyichuks); Igwe Nwagu and Anayo Edwin.

Others are Chukwuma Nwazunku; Augustine Nwazunku; Sylvester Ogbaga; Emmanuel Eze; Anayo Edwin and Obinna Ogba

Abia aspirants include Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Nnanna Nwafor; Don Lulu; Senator Emma Nwaka and former VC ABSU, Prof. Uchenna Ikonne, who is said to be Ikpeazu’s anointed candidate.

Others from Abia include Chima Anyaso, Ude Oko Chukwu, Lucky Igbokwe; Hon. Samson Orji; Chief Ncheta Omerekpe and Engr Nana Nwafor.

Enugu aspirants are Ekweremadu; Denge Joseph Onoh; Chinyeaka Ohaa, Barth Nnaji, Dr. Gabriel Ajah and Prof. Hilary Edeoga.

Others are Chijioke Edeoga, Peter Mba, Senator Gil Nnaji; Capt Evarest Nnaji; Beloved Dan Anike; Rev. Raph Nwoye; Chief Chikwado Chukwunta; Dr. Kingsley Udeh and Barr. Nwabueze Ugwu.

Some of the screened aspirants commended the screening committee for transparency.

Ike Ekweremadu rated the exercise high, saying: “Today, the PDP is holding the screening exercise of its gubernatorial aspirants in the South East and all over the country, zone by zone. In the South East, the exercise is taking place in Enugu and it is an important step in the party’s preparations for the 2023 general election.

“But, because there is no governorship election coming up in 2023 in Imo State where there is already an All Progressives Congress (APC) in place and Anambra where an All Progressives Grand Alliance Government (APGA) government was recently installed, based on an off-season election, the screening in the Southeast is only holding for Enugu, Abia, and Ebonyi aspirants.

“So, I have gone to meet with the panel and I have been successfully screened. It was quite smooth and the people were quite friendly and courteous. The system is perfect and we hope that the exercise will continue to be smooth as I met it.

“I want to thank the officials of the PDP in Enugu State and the Southeast for a job well done so far”, he stated.

Abaribe said the exercise is credible.

“I am impressed with what I have just passed through. It does show how remarkably improved PDP has become in its process.

“The people know who their champions are. We have all it takes and we have been screened.”