By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
This is not the best period to be a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to talk of being a member of any of its national organ including the all-powerful National Working Committee (NWC) as Nigerians await the outcome of the screening of the 17 Presidential Aspirants which has kicked off in Abuja on Friday.
Four frontrunners, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, Mr. Peter Obi, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and Mazi Samuel Ohuabunwa and 13 other Presidential aspirants are currently facing the PDP Presidential Screening Committee at PDP Legacy House, Plot 2774, Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, Abuja.
As at the time of this report, Atiku, a former Vice President of Nigeria; Dr. Anthony Nwachukwu Anakwenze and Anyim, ex-Senate President and later Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) have all been screened by the committee if the timeline released by the PDP is to be followed religiously.
According to the timeline, the screening excercise will end by 7:30 pm on Friday with the screening of the tough-talking aspirant, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers state who will face the committee from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm.
See the timeline for the PDP Presidential Screening Committee for Friday, April 29, 2023.
- H.E ATIKU ABUBAKAR – 10:30 – 11AM
- DR. ANTHONY NWACHUKWU ANAKWENZE – 11 – 11:30
- H.E SEN. ANYIM PIUS ANYIM – 11:30-12Noon
- H.E GABRIEL UDOM EMMANUEL – 12-12:30PM
- H.E AYO FAYOSE – 12:30-1PM
- MOHAMMED HAYATU-DEEN – 1-1:30PM
- RT. HON. CHIKWENDU KALU – 1:30-2PM
LUNCH BREAK 2-2:30PM
- H.E SEN. BALA A. MOHAMMED – 2:30-3PM
- AYOBAMI DELE MOMODU – 3 – 3:30PM
- RT. HON. COSMOS C. NDUKWE – 3:30-4PM
- H.E PETER OBI – 4PM-4:30PM
- MAZI. SAM IHEANYICHUKWU OHUABUNWA- 4:30-5PM
- DIANA TARIELA OLIVER – 5-5:30PM
- H.E SEN. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI- 5:30-6PM
- BARR. CHARLES OKWUDILI UGWU – 6PM-6:30PM
- H.E RT. HON. AMINU TAMBUWAL WAZIRI – 6:30-7PM
- H.E BARR. NYESOM EZENWO WIKE – 7-7:30PM
Meanwhile, uneasy calm has pervaded both the Wadata House Headquarters of PDP in Wuse Zone 5 and the Legacy House, Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, as party bigwigs and staff are keeping straight faces and not willing to comment on the outcome of the on-going screaming exercise in Abuja.
However, a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) who pleaded anonymity said the large number of qualified Presidential aspirants has been bordering the PDP chieftains who believe that this has made difficult the job of picking a flagbearer for the 2023 Presidential Election.
” The truth is that the quality of Presidential aspirants and the issue of zoning have put the party in a quagmire. This is really a very tough task I must confess but when we get to the bridge we will cross it”, the PDP top official said.
