LAGOS AUGUST 29TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have begun subtle moves to scratch aspirants for public office considered as “unfriendly.” A PDP insider told SaharaReporters, “The Presidency has directed that anybody who wants to contest for national offices at the convention of the party but is unfriendly should be frustrated out.”
The party also moved the date for the screening of aspirants from Thursday, August 29 to Friday, August 30. But the party’s official line is that the postponement arose due to serious disagreements among aspirants, especially those from the South East, and within the caucus of the party over candidates to be adopted and fielded at the convention.
“What we know is that the screening will now hold on Friday instead of Thursday which was initially fixed,” a party official said.
Prior to the postponement, some of the aspirants had arrived in Abuja and moved into Rock View Hotel, located at Wuse 2, the venue of the screening. A delegate from the South South told SaharaReporters that delegates were being pressured to axe some aspirants considered “not loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan.” The source added that the PDP should not try to silence any members.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the screening was shifted, the chairman of the screening committee, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, said the date was moved because some aspirants complained that the notice inviting them to appear for screening was too short. He added that the party wanted to see if the various political zones could achieve common ground on the positions zoned to them.
Said Mr. Ndoma-Egba: “I know some zones have already agreed and others are still in the process of achieving it and you know that if you are able to reach a common position, it would facilitate the conference. So, that’s why the party in its wisdom decided to give the zones some time so that they can fine-tune their positions.”
Source: Saharareporters