The Peoples Democratic Party faction aligned with Nyesom Wike has screened its sole presidential aspirant, Sandy Onor, and 25 governorship aspirants from 17 states.
The exercise took place on Thursday at the PDP Legacy House in Abuja. In a statement, national director of publicity Chinwe Nnorom said the party was moving ahead with its electoral processes after the Supreme Court affirmed the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Working Committee.
Former Abia governor Okezie Ikpeazu chaired the presidential screening committee, while former Kaduna governor Ahmed Makarfi led the governorship panel. Nnorom said one presidential candidate and 25 governorship aspirants were screened, with others still completing documentation for a later round.
After his screening, Onor backed President Bola Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy, calling it a bold step that freed funds for development. “Nigerians universally agreed that subsidy was a problem and a bastion of corruption,” he said, adding that greater accountability was now needed.
Among those cleared for the governorship primaries was Kefiano Ropshik of Plateau State. Nasarawa aspirant David Ombugadu said he won the 2019 and 2023 elections based on INEC iREV results and urged the media and civil society to protect votes.
Other aspirants screened include Kelechi Anosike (Abia), Kayode Ogunshola and Hazeem Gbolarumi (Oyo), Samson Nnamani (Enugu), Mustapha Lamido (Jigawa), and Mohammed Bello (Kano).
The PDP said governorship primaries will hold on May 24 and the presidential primary on May 26.
