Turaki-led PDP to screen Jonathan as sole presidential aspirant tomorrow

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Kabiru Turaki will screen former President Goodluck Jonathan as its sole presidential aspirant on Tuesday.

The PDP faction, in a statement on Sunday, said the screening of all hopefuls would hold tomorrow by 10am ahead of its forthcoming primaries.

According to the statement, about 2,122 state house of assembly, 748 house of representatives, 198 senatorial, 112 governorship and one presidential hopefuls are expected to be screened.

The party did not disclose the identity of the lone presidential aspirant. Ini Ememobong, spokesperson of the party, could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report.

However, a source within the party confirmed that Jonathan is the sole presidential aspirant to be screened.

Listed among the 14-member screening committee are former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Jonah Jang, former governor of Plateau; and Tom Ikimi, former minister of foreign affairs.

Other members of the committee are Olabode George, Babangida Aliyu, Maryam Ciroma, Zainab Maina, Josephine Anenih, Abdul Bulama, Esther Uduehi, Tony Aziegbemi, Edo PDP chairman, Sunday Solari and Anicho Okoro, who will serve as administrative secretary of the committee.

The statement said the committee list was approved by the national executive committee at its 104th meeting.

This publication is in accordance with the party’s guidelines and timetable for the conduct of the 2027 general election,” the statement added.

The clamour for Jonathan’s return to the presidency reached another dimension on May 7 when a group of youths under the aegis of the Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan converged on his residence in Abuja in a solidarity rally, urging him to run for president again in 2027.