Just in: Two of PDP’s 17 presidential aspirants disqualified

The People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) Presidential Screening Committee has disqualified two of its aspirants.

According to the party, the disqualified candidates, whose names were not disclosed, did not meet up with the requirements for the position.

The Chairman of the committee, Sen. David Mark, announced this on Friday after the committee concluded its screening of the party’s 17 aspirants.

Persecondnews gathered that the disqualified candidates are expected to forfeit the N40 million each of them paid for the Expression of lnterest and Nomination Forms.

Speaking with journalists after the screening, one of the aspirants, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, noted that the screening was designed to verify the candidates’ membership and financial status.

He said academic credentials and other requirements for a presidential candidate as spelled out in the 1999 Constitution were also verified.

Persecondnews recalls that the 17 presidential aspirants screened include two-term Governor of Kwara and immediate past President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; former Speaker, House of Representatives, and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; former President of the Senate and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim.

Others are former Minister of Federal Capital Territory and Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed; former Minister of State for Education and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; outgoing Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel; 2019 PDP vice presidential candidate and former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi; former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; United States-based medical doctor, Nwachukwu Anakwenze; and media mogul, Dele Momodu.

Also on the list are Investment banker and economist, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; a pharmacist, Sam Ohuabunwa; former Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Cosmos Ndukwe; Charles Ugwu; as well as the only female aspirant in the race, Tareila Diana.

About N640 million was realized from the 16 male presidential aspirants and N6 million from the only female presidential aspirant, Diana, totaling N646 million.

Meanwhile, National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has slammed Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, a presidential aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), for what he called his alleged inability to manage the nation’s rail system.

“We don’t want presidential aspirants, who can run round the stadium like Usain Bolt, but cannot run the country’s rail system,” he said while commenting on Akwa Ibom Gov. Udom Emmanuel’s picking up the party’s Nomination and Expression of lnterest forms.

“Nigeria desires trusted and tested politicians, like the Akwa Ibom State governor, to manage the affairs of the country.”