*As Sen. Mark Chairs Committee
By Myke Agunwa
Following an adjusted national convention time table and schedule of pre-election activities, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will on Friday commence screening of its 17 Presidential aspirants in Abuja.
The party also appointed former Senate President, David Mark, as the chairman of a nine-member committee while Dame Dr. Esther Udehi will serve as its secretary.
Other members of the screening committee are Chief Celestine Omehia; Chief Mike Ahamba, SAN; Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; Edward Ashiekaa, SAN, and Mrs. Hilda Makonto.
Also listed as members are Dr. Akiku Indabawa, Hajiya Hassana Dikko, while Ms. Chinedu Nwachukwu will serve as Administrative Secretary to the committee.
The party further appointed its National Chairman Sen. Iyorchia Ayu as head of the Presidential Appeals Committee and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as the Secretary.
To face the screening committee are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President Bukola Saraki; former Anambra Governor Peter Obi and Sokoto Governor, Aminu Tambuwal.
Also to be screened are a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Pius Anyim; Bauchi Governor, Bala Mohammed; Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike; and Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom Emmanuel.
Others are former Pfizer CEO Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa; a former bank chief, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; a United States based medical doctor, Nwachukwu Anakwenze; and Ovation Magazine publisher, Dele Momodu.
Also to be screened are former Ekiti Governor, Ayo Fayose; Cosmos Ndukwe, Mr. Charles Ugwu, Chikwendu Kalu and Tariele Diana Oliver.
Also listed for screening in Abuja are all aspirants for governorship, State Assemblies and National Assembly elections in all the seven states in North West geopolitical zone.
The States include Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa, Kebbi and Zamfara. The exercise is scheduled to hold on Wednesday and Thursday.
Screening for same categories of elections in the remaining states, except Anambra, will however take place at the party’s zonal secretariats same dates.
For the governorship screening exercise, The North Central screening committee will be chaired by Hon. Tim Eneje while Maurice Tsav will serve as secretary; North West Hon. Oluwateru Omolade and Baba Kassim will serve as chairman and secretary respectively; North East Dr. Abdu Bulama and Alh. Kabiru Jauro.
The governorship screening committee for the South East will be chaired by Hon. Eric Nwakamma while Hon. Ugwu James will serve as secretary; for South-South Gov. Diri Duoye and Felix Omemu; South-West screening panel will be led by Sen. Ahmed Makarafi and Chief Rahman Owokoniran respectively.
