Seventeen Presidential aspirants who bought the forms of the main opposition political party the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), for 2023 general election in Nigeria would be screened April 27.
They are two-term governor of Kwara State and immediate past President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Speaker, House of Representatives, and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; former President of the Senate and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim.
Others included former Minister of Federal Capital Territory and Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed; former Minister of State for Education and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
The outgoing Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel; 2019 PDP vice presidential candidate and former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi; former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; United States-based medical doctor, Nwachukwu Anakwenze; and media mogul, Dele Momodu.
Also among the successful aspirants that bought the forms were Investment banker and economist, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; a pharmacist, Sam Ohuabunwa; former Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Cosmos Ndukwe; Charles Ugwu; as well as the only female aspirant in the race, Tareila Diana.
The aspirants were listed for further screening that would commence next week April 27.
PDP realized a total sum of N646 million from the sale of Presidential forms with 16 of the male aspirants paying N40m each and the only female presidential aspirant Diana paying N6m.
National Organising Secretary of PDP, Bature Umar, who disclosed this in a statement, said the governorship aspirants would be screened on April 26.
Umar also said the House of Representatives, senatorial, and House of Assembly aspirants would be screened on April 25.
He said appeals by those dissatisfied with the screening exercise would commence on April 25 for House of Assembly, while that for House of Representatives and Senate would take place on April 27.
Appeals from governorship aspirants would be addressed on April 29, and the presidential appeal committee would hear appeals from dissatisfied presidential aspirants on April 30, the statement said.
It said the process of selection of ad hoc delegates for the election of candidates would commence April 23, to be followed by ward congress on April 26.
In the revised timetable, local government congresses would take place nationwide on April 29, while the local government appeal committees would hear appeals from the election of the ad hoc delegates on May 2.
Delegates’ list would be published on May 5, while the nomination congress of the House of Representatives and Senate would take place May 12 and May 14, respectively.
The appeals would take place on May 18, while the governorship primaries would be held on May 24, with the appeals following on May 25.
The presidential convention of PDP is expected to hold on May 29 and 30.