The Kabiru Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says it has waived screening requirements for former President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the party’s presidential primary.
Rormer governor of Niger state and member of the PDP screening committee, Babangida Aliyu, made this known 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 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.
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.
The PDP primaries for all elective offices are scheduled for May 28.
