The headquarters of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Nigeria was bubbling with activities on Monday, April 12, 2021 as the party began the screening of its 16 governorship aspirants for the Anambra polls slated for November 6, 2021.
Among the aspirants who are vying for the party’s ticket are business moguls, federal lawmakers, a US-based medical doctor, a daughter of a former vice president of Nigeria, a senior advocate of Nigeria, a former deputy governorship candidate, and others.
Last week, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP announced a 5-person committee led by the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada (Rtd) to screen the aspirants Anambra State governorship election slated for Novermber 6, 2021.
Other committee members are Senator Ehigie Uzamere, a former senator representing Edo South Senatorial District; former members of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Mrs. Martha Bodunrin, and Rt. Hon. Jones Onyereri; and the South-East Zonal Secretary of the party, Chief James Ugwu, who serves as the committee’s secretary.
On Monday, nine of the sixteen aspirants who had purchased and returned the the PDP nomination and expression of interest forms were screened, with the other seven to be screened on Tuesday, April 13, 2021.
Valentine Ozigbo, a business mogul and immediate past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, is one of the frontrunners in the race who was screened on the first day. Other aspirants screened alongside Ozigbo were Senator Uche Ekwunife, the senator representing Anambra Central, High Chief Obiora Okonkwo, a businessman, Engr. Chris Azubogu, a federal lawmaker, Okeke Walter Ubaka, Mrs Chidi Onyemelikwe, a former deputy governorship candidate in the 2017 guber election, Dr Tony Nwoye, a former APC governorship candidate in the 2017, Dr Winston Udeh, a business consultant, and Dr Ifedi Okwenna.
On Tuesday, to be screened are Chief Godwin Ezeemo, an oil magnate, whose screening was earlier slated for Monday, Dr Godwin Maduka, a US-based medical doctor, Senator Ugochukwu Uba, Emeka Etiaba (SAN), Hon. Chukwumaeze Nzeribe, Hon Genevieve Ekwochi, and Chief Olisakwe Eisenhower.
The screening venue was the NWC Hall at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja. The Anambra PDP governorship primary election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, June 26, 2021.
