The Tanimu Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cleared former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the party’s presidential candidate.
Speaking after the screening exercise in Abuja, screening committee led by former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, nsaid it granted Jonathan a waiver from the screening process in recognition of his previous service as deputy governor, governor, vice president, and president.
Aliyu said: “The party had already given a presidential aspirant a waiver from screening. Like I said in the beginning, he was deputy governor, became governor, became vice president, became president, so we didn’t see anything that needed screening.
“And therefore, the party had given him a waiver. In other words, he has been declared and cleared as a candidate of the PDP for the presidential election, and that is former President Jonathan.”
He also disclosed that the PDP National Secretary and former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, was granted a waiver.
“The other waiver is also for the former deputy governor and ambassador, and the secretary of the party, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, who for many reasons had to be in Ibadan, Oyo State, to ensure that everything had gone well. So we also declared him as having been given a waiver by the party,” he said.
Aliyu explained that other aspirants from different states had appeared before the committee for screening.
“The others, as I’m sure you have interacted with many of them who have come here.
“We had two from Taraba, one from Adamawa, one from Kano, one from Akwa Ibom, one from Delta, and Kano. Anytime the other people come within the screening period, we will continue the screening exercise,” he stated.
The former governor expressed confidence that the PDP would remain strong despite internal challenges.
“We are very happy that even those who have been attempting to kill the party cannot succeed, and the party will contest this election by the grace of God and by the Constitution of Nigeria,” Aliyu added.
End.
