PDP begins screening of 16 aspirants for Anambra guber

Ahead of its June 26, 2021, primary to elect a flagbearer for the November 6, 2021 governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, subjected its aspirants to a very rigorous screening exercise.

Some of the issues raised during the screening bordered on the genuineness of certificates, tax payments, loyalty to the party, as well as aspirants’ political backgrounds.

The screening, which took place at the party’s National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

Chairman of the screening committee, former Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada (rtd), promised that the committee would strictly abide by the party’s guidelines and regulations for the screening.

“We are going to be diligent, honest, thorough, and transparent. So, we seek aspirants’ co-operation in that regard,” he said.

Also, justifying the thoroughness of the screening, the party’s National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), lamented that most parties, including the PDP, had in the past lost elections for doing shady jobs in the screening of aspirants.

Akobundu said though the aspirants were 16, the committee would determine those that met the criteria for the election.

Some of the aspirants screened yesterday included Uche Ekwunife, Obiora Okonkwo, Chris Azugbogu, and Valentine Ozigbo.

Others awaiting screening include Winston Udeh, Godwin Ezeemo, Emeka Etiaba, Ifedi Okwena, Ugochukwu Uba, Tony Nwoye, Chidi Onyemerukwe, Godwin Maduka, and Ekwochi Genevieve.

The screened aspirants, however, described the process as tough and transparent and expressed confidence in the committee.

According to Ozigbo: “The process is straightforward.
I am very impressed with what I have passed through. It showed how remarkably improved PDP has become in its process.”