Aspirants disqualified from PDP primaries

Abuja - The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Screening Committee has disqualified 13 aspirants to participate in the Party’s gubernatorial primary election slated for Saturday.

The committee disqualified Bode Olowoporoku, Peter Obafemi and Bosede Dada from contesting the election for various reasons.

Aspirants cleared to contest by the committee include the former Governor of the State, Ayo Fayose, Oluwadare Bajide, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd) and Prince Adedayo Adeyeye.

Also cleared are Adeyanju Sunday, Erelu Ogundipe, Abiodun Aluko, Adewale Aribisala, Oladeji Omoyeni, Olubenga Aluko, Oluropo Ogunbolude, Dr Omolara Adubiaro and Ajayi Ayodeji.

Chairman of the committee, Victor Ndoma-Egba, disclosed the shortlist.

The chairman said other aspirants were disqualified for failing
to produce academic qualifications while others faced disciplinary action.

Ndoma-Egba said that aspirants who felt the committee did not meet their aspiration had the opportunity of going to the Appeal Panel which was also set up on Monday.

“We have evidence before us that Olowoporoku had been expelled from the party, but he said here that he had gone to court and had set aside the expulsion. Unfortunately, the court judgment he sent to us came to us a few minutes before we presented our report. Which means that his option now is to take it to the Appeal Panel and I am sure they will look very favourably at that, so all hope is not lost.”

The Party Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who received the report, commended the committee members for the selections process and transparent screening.
He maintained that the party leadership would ensure that justice was done to all party members, adding that no one would be left out in the appeal process.