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PDP Screens 56 South-South Governorship Aspirants

The South-South Screening Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the Chairman and Governor of Bayelsa, Senator Douye Diri had concluded the screening of 56 governorship aspirants from four States in the zone.

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The exercise which started on Thursday with expectation to screen 57 ended yesterday with the screening of 56 Guber aspirants from across Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

Speaking at the end of the screening exercise, held at the zonal office of the party in Port Harcourt, Chairman of the committee and Governor Diri described the exercise as tasking but transparent.

He noted that 57 aspirants were billed to be screened but only 56 showed up, adding that the exercise was more or less a family affair.

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Diri expressed confidence that the party would present its best candidate in the general election, added that all aspirants have what it takes to fly the party flag.

He said: “The exercise was quite transparent and it is a family affair and men of integrity are in this committee.

The panel has done its job with all the details observed. And now we have successfully completed our assignment.

“From what you have witnessed, the expectations are that we are putting forth our best and virtually all of those who appear before us have what it takes to fly the party flag in the four states in the region. As you are aware, Bayelsa and Edo are off season. So in the South-south, we have four States rather than six.”

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Diri continued: “Our take is that this is a family affair. Our party is our family. And hitherto people keep jumping from one party to the other.

“It will interest you to know that we screen some of them who jumped away and they are back and they are now our touch bearers preaching that PDP is the best party and they have returned to their home.

“In all, they were 57 aspirants but one did not turn up and so we screened 56 aspirants.”

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Diri gave a breakdown of aspirants from the four states: “Rivers state has 17 aspirants; Delta had 15 aspirants; Cross Rivers 11 and Akwa Ibom has 14 aspirants.”

He however urged aspirants that may not clinch the party ticket after primaries to remain in the party.

“For me, whether at the end of the day whoever wins the party primaries or not we all must remain to support our party and ensure that we not only support our party but support our country for a change in the leadership of this country,” he said.

(Thisday)