PDP Commences Screening of Aspirants for Anambra Guber Election

By Chuks Okocha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday commenced the screening of its aspirants for the Anambra State governorship election ahead of its primaries scheduled for June 26, 2021.

The screening, which is scheduled for yesterday and today, took place at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

Some of the guidelines for the screening exercise include up-to-date payment of three years tax, academic background with certified copy of academic credentials, work experience, and relationship with party in the state and stakeholders.

The Screening Committee, chaired by former Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada, pledged that the committee would follow the party’s guidelines and regulations for the screening exercise.

“We are going to be diligent, honest, thorough and transparent; so we seek the aspirants’ cooperation in that regard,” Wada said.

The party National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), said the exercise was to screen all the aspirants ahead of the primaries, to elect a candidate that would lead the PDP to victory in the November 6 election.

Akobundu said the exercise would be smooth as the committee is committed to its mandate, maintaining that most parties, including PDP, had in the past lost elections for doing shady jobs in screening of aspirants.

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

Some of the aspirants that obtained the party’s nomination and Expression of Interest forms are Uche Ekwunife, Obiora Okonkwo, Chris Azugbogu, Winston Udeh, Valentine Ozigbo, Godwin Ezeemo and Emeka Etiaba.

Others are Ifedi Okwena, Ugochkwu Uba, Tony Nwoye, Chidi Onyemerukwe, Godwin Maduka and Ekwochi Genevieve.

As at press time, only seven of the 16 aspirants have been screened, as the outcome of the exercise is expected to be made open today’s evening.

One of the aspirants, Valentine Ozigbo, commended the party for the transparent nature of the exercise and how the party has improved in the management of internal democracy.