BREAKING: PDP waives screening requirement for Jonathan
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Kabiru Turaki, says it has waived screening requirements for former President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the party’s presidential primary.
Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Niger state and member of the PDP screening committee, spoke on Tuesday in Abuja.
Aliyu, who represented Namadi Sambo, former vice-president and chairman of the screening panel, said Jonathan, being a former president, does not need to undergo screening.
“As you know, the party had already given the presidential aspirant a waiver. He was deputy governor, governor, vice-president, and later president, so we didn’t see anything that needed screening,” Aliyu said
“And therefore, the party had given him a waiver. In other words, he has been cleared and declared as a candidate of the PDP for the presidential election — that is, President Jonathan.”
Aliyu said the party also waived the screening requirement for Taofeek Arapaja, a former member of the PDP national working committee (NWC), to contest the Oyo governorship election.
The former Niger state governor said the committee screened governorship aspirants from various states, including Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Akwa Ibom, and Delta.
“So our committee is still in place. The committee will continue the screening exercise and clear aspirants within the screening period accordingly,” he said.
“We are very happy that those who have been attempting to kill the party have not succeeded. The party will contest this election by the grace of God and by the constitution of Nigeria.”
Jonathan, the sole presidential aspirant of the Turaki PDP faction, was scheduled to submit his nomination form at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Monday, but he did not show up.
