Rivers: PDP screens 56 South South guber aspirants
… Says winners will be best party candidates
By Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has concluded its 2-day screening exercise for governorship aspirants from the South South Zone of its party in Port Harcourt. Briefing journalists after the exercise, the chairman of the Screening Committee and the Bayelsa State Governor, His Excellency Douye Diri said his Committee has successfully concluded its assignment, describing it as a family affair.
He said out of 57 applications, the Committee screened 56 aspirants, leaving out one that did not turn up.
A breakdown of the figures show that Rivers State had 16 applicants, Akwa Ibom 14, Cross River 11 and Delta 15, being the total number to 56.
The Bayelsa State Governor said the screening exercise was peaceful, democratic and transparent.
He urged all the eventual winners to be magnanimous in victory, while charging the losers to exercise the spirit of sportsmanship and support the winners, bearing in mind that they are all party members.
“As a Committee we did very well. The exercise was democratic, transparent and friendly, in short it was a family affair and all the contestants were satisfied.
The aspirants were all the best, so whoever that emerges in all the South South States, will be our first eleven. For me, if at the end of the day you don’t win the primary, remain in the party and support the winner,” Diri said.
The only absentee was the lawmaker representing Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives in Rivers State, Hon. Farah Dagogo who was accused of sponsoring cultists to disrupt PDP National and State House of Assembly aspirants’ screening.
He was consequently arrested by the police, having been earlier declared wanted by Governor Nyesom Wike.
In an interview with some of the aspirants shortly after their screening, they narrated their experiences with the Screening Committee.
First to speak to our Correspondent was former Senator, Lee Maeba who said he sponsored the Nigerian Content Bill.
He applauded the screening Committee for conducting a transparent and peaceful exercise.
According to him, as a foundation member of PDP and having meritoriously served the party in different capacities, he expects nothing less support from members to enable him become the next governor of Rivers State.
He described himself as a bridge between the boys and men, as well as the old and new members of the party.
In his own remarks, another aspirant and the immediate past Chairman of PDP in Rivers State, Bro Felix Obuah promised to institutionalise the policy of ‘go-round,’ where every indigene and resident of the State will have a sense of belonging.
