The panel set up by
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to screen governorship aspirants on the
platform of the party in four states of the South-South geo-political zone has
disqualified no fewer than 13 of the aspirants in Rivers State.
Those disqualified
were former vice-chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Don
Baridan; Hon. Oseleye Dennis Ojuka, Mrs. Abietedoghu Bob-Abbey Hart, Hon.
Gabriel Pidomson, Hon. Atamuno Atamuno, and Dr. Silver Opusunju, Chief Sampson
Ngerebara, Major Lancelot Anyanya, and Hon. Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja.
Other governorship
aspirants who were also disqualified from contesting in the forthcoming
primaries of the party in the state include, Prince Tonye Princewill, Hon. Nimi
Walson-Jack, Engr. Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, and former
minister of state for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Odein Ajumogobia.
Those cleared to
contest in the PDP governorship primaries in the state are, the immediate past
minister of state for education, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, former senator
representing Rivers South-East senatorial district in the National Assembly,
Senator Lee Maeba, and former commissioner for works, Pawariso Samuel Horsfall.
Others are Captain Sunny Nwankwo, Hon. Bernard Mikko and Ibinabo Michael-West.
A source close to the
PDP zonal secretariat in Port Harcourt, where the Ambassador Obed Wadzani-led
screening panel sat, said that the governorship aspirants were disqualified
based on allegations that they were not card-carrying members of the party.
Meanwhile, one of the
disqualified governorship aspirants, Prince Tonye Princewill has alleged that
his disqualification was the handiwork of the former minister of state for
Education and governorship aspirant on the platform of the PDP, Chief Ezebunwo
Nyesom Wike.
