Wike-led PDP faction screens presidential, governorship aspirants

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party backed by Nyesom Wike on Thursday conducted the screening of its sole presidential aspirant, Sandy Onor, alongside 25 governorship aspirants drawn from 17 states ahead of the party’s primary elections.

The screening exercise took place at the PDP Legacy House in Abuja, as the faction moved forward with preparations for its governorship and presidential primaries following the resolution of its leadership dispute.

In a statement issued by Chinwe Nnorom, the party’s national director of publicity, the PDP said the exercise followed the Supreme Court’s affirmation of the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Working Committee.

According to the statement, the presidential screening committee was chaired by Okezie Ikpeazu, while the governorship screening committee was headed by Ahmed Makarfi.

“The PDP will screen only one presidential candidate and 25 governorship aspirants from 17 states,” the statement read, adding that other aspirants were still completing documentation for subsequent screening opportunities.

Speaking after the exercise, Onor defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidy, describing the policy as a necessary step that unlocked funds for national development.

“Nigerians universally agreed that subsidy was a problem and a bastion of corruption,” he said.

Onor, however, stressed the need for transparency and accountability in the management of the funds generated from the policy.