PDP Inaugurates Presidential Screening Committee

Ahead of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential primaries on Thursday, the party has inaugurated a ten-man screening committee to verify the credentials and integrity of the presidential aspirants in the the party.

At the inauguration of the crucial committee this afternoon, the chairman of the party, Okwesilieze Nwodo, along with other members of the party’s National Working Committee charged the members of the committee to be thorough and imbibe the principle of fairness, justice and equity.

Nwodo particularly noted: “We do not want to present a candidate that our opponents will stop. We have seen how they have been using the court against us. Rather, we are poised to present the candidate that will portray the qualities which Nigerians are yearning for.”

While reminding the members of the importance of their task in screening out people with questionable character, the party chairman stated that “this assignment comes with a responsibility to disqualify but you have to be meticulous in your assignment and if you must disqualify any aspirant, let it be with a cogent reason.”

He added: “Be very diligent and careful. Let your decision to disqualify anybody not give us and the Appeal panel additional work to do. We are hoping that the presidential primaries with be hitch-free.”

Responding on behalf of the members of the committee, the chairman, Alhaji Aminu Wali, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, stated that the committee is committed to justice and fairness in the job they have been assigned to do, assuring that the members are not out to satisfy the interest of any individual or aspirant but the PDP.

Other members of the 2010/2011 Special Congresses and National Convention Presidential Screening Panel are Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, secretary of the panel, former Minister of Establishment and Chairman of the Imo State Council of Elders Chief Innocent Nwoga, Senator Clement Awoyelu from Ekiti State, Chief Franklin Adonkumoh, Alhaji Ibrahim Abba Gubio and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Bashir Yuguda.

Others are: former Niger State Deputy Governor and Campaign Director of Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation Dr. Nuhu Zagbayi, a member of PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) Hajia Zainab Maina and Mrs. Linda Douglas Nwibani.