•Clears way for Atiku, Tambuwal, Saraki, 12 others •Names David Mark as Chairman national convention committee
By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has thrown open its presidential ticket to the various zones in the country.
This was sequel to the adoption of the report of the party’s National zoning committee headed by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State.
Multiple sources at the meetings confirmed this to our correspondent in Abuja yesterday.
With the development, all the remaining 15 fifteen presidential aspirants of the PDP are now free to contest for the ticket.
Two of them were disqualified earlier by the party for different reasons.
The fifteen PDP presidential aspirants are former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Dr Bukola Saraki, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Pius Anyim, Peter Obi, Sam Ohuabunwa, Dele Momodu, Nwachukwu Anakwenze, Udom Emmanuel, Nyesom Wike and Bala Mohammed.
Others are; Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Ayo Fayose, Cosmos Ndukwe, Charles Ugwu, Chikwendu Kalu, Tariele Diana Oliver (female aspirant).
The decision was taken after the various meetings of the PDP which included; The Governors’ Forum, the Caucus, the Board of Trustees and the National Executive Committee, NEC, held yesterday in Abuja.
The NEC meeting also named former Senate President, David Mark as the Chairman of its National Convention Committee slated for 28th and 29th of this month (May) in Abuja.
The meeting of the NEC of the PDP ended yesterday at about 10.15pm.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon Debo Ologunagba was still being expected to brief the Media as at press time.
Earlier in his remarks, PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu harped on the need for party leaders to remain united.
Ayu said “In the spirit of the party, we’re not only getting more united, we’re also working harder. And I believe that with this spirit, we’ll definitely do very well in the forthcoming elections and nothing will stop us from taking over power come May next year.
“So, I urge you all to continue with same the enthusiasm to resolve differences within the party among ourselves to make sure we work hard at the grassroots level with the same enthusiasm we displayed here in Abuja”.
