Goodluck Scales PDP's Screening As Tafawa Balewa Withdraws

In order to set the stage for its December 10, 2014 National Convention, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday screened two of its presidential aspirants: President Goodluck Jonathan and Dr. Jelil Tafawa-Balewa.

The duo appeared before the party’s presidential screening committee in Abuja. After seven hours with the committee, Tafewa-Balawa announced his withdrawal from the presidential race.
Though President Jonathan was adopted by the PDP National Executive Committee, NEC, at its last meeting in September as the sole presidential candidate, he still went through the full procedure of procuring the expression of interest and nomination forms last month.
President Jonathan arrived at the PDP National Secretariat, venue of the screening at 3:14pm and was received by the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and other leaders of the party, as well as some members of the National Assembly.
He was accompanied by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, some members of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali and other aides.
Unlike Jonathan’s previous visits to the PDP secretariat when security aides formed strong network round him, the arrangement was relaxed as he freely exchanged pleasantries with several PDP members who trooped to the venue to receive him.
After the exchange of pleasantries, he was escorted to the second floor Meeting Room of the National Working Committee, NWC, where members of the screening panel headed by former PDP National Chairman, Dr, Ahmadu Ali, were waiting to conduct the exercise.
The screening lasted for almost one hour before the President came down at about 4:12pm.
At 4:28pm, Tafawa-Balewa arrived at the PDP office and went straight to the second floor to face the panel.
He told journalists after the meeting that he had withdrawn from the race in the interest of the party.
Other members of the panel are former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN, Alhaji Yerima Abdullahi, Bashir Dalhatu, Walin Dutse, Chief Jim Nwobodo, Prof. Stella Atoe, Chief Jibrin Martins Kuye, Hon. Saudatu Sani and Mrs. Josephine Anenih.
Former PDP National Legal Adviser, Chief Olusola Oke, is the secretary of the screening panel.
While it is expecting the outcome of the screening exercise, the PDP has already setup a Presidential Appeal Committee headed by Mu’azu and members of the NWC.
The members are Prince Uche Secondus (Deputy National Chairman); Abubakar Mustapha (National Organising Committee); Elder Bolaji Akpan Anani (National Financial Secretary); Olisa Metuh (National Publicity Secretary); Mrs. Kema Chikwe (National Woman Leader); Abdullahi Maibasira (National Youth Leader); Buhari Bala (National Treasurer); Onwe .S. Onwe (Deputy National Secretary) and Adewole Adeyanju (National Auditor).
Others are: Kwon Victor, Senator Walid Jibrin, Dr. Shettima Mustapha, Dr. Talatu Nasir, Chief Emmanuel Inwanyanwu, Chief Stella Omu, Chief Ebenezer Babatope and Prof. Wale Oladipo who will serve as secretary.
The appeal panel is expected to sit today at the party’s national secretariat to handle any complaint arising from the screening exercise