To Vet 2,122 Assembly, 748 Reps, 198 Senatorial Hopefuls Nationwide
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has granted former President Goodluck Jonathan automatic clearance to contest the 2027 presidential election without undergoing screening, as the party commenced nationwide screening of aspirants for the general elections.
The disclosure was made on Tuesday in Abuja by former Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, who said the PDP considered Jonathan’s political pedigree sufficient to exempt him from the normal screening process.
Aliyu, a member of the PDP screening committee led by Tanimu Turaki, said Jonathan’s rise from deputy governor to governor, vice president and eventually president justified the waiver granted to him by the party.
“As you know, the party had already given a presidential aspirant waiver. He was deputy governor, became governor, vice president and later president, so we didn’t see anything that needed screening.
“And therefore, the party has cleared him as PDP candidate for the presidential election, and that is President Jonathan,” he said.
Aliyu also disclosed that the waiver extended to a former deputy governor and ambassador, as well as the party secretary, Tawfik Arakwaja, who was said to be coordinating party activities in Oyo State.
The PDP also screened 12 governorship aspirants on Tuesday, including Senator Joel Ikenya, Benedict Etanabene, Sharif Abdullahi and Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga.
According to Aliyu, the exercise would continue nationwide in line with the timetable approved by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and Interim National Working Committee (iNWC).
He said aspirants from Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Akwa Ibom and Delta states had already appeared before the panel.
“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,” he added.
The PDP screening committee is expected to screen 2,122 House of Assembly aspirants, 748 House of Representatives aspirants, 198 senatorial aspirants, 112 governorship aspirants and one presidential aspirant nationwide.
Speaking after his screening, Ikenya said he was seeking the Taraba governorship ticket to tackle poverty through agriculture and improved healthcare delivery.
He also stressed the need for collective efforts in tackling insecurity across the country.
“Security is not an individual thing. It is about government and the people working together to secure the country and allow citizens go about their businesses without fear,” he said.
Delta governorship aspirant Benedict Etanabene said his administration would focus on job creation, infrastructure development and grassroots governance if elected.
According to him, development must begin from the ward level, with councillors directly involved in budget implementation and accountability.
In Yobe State, governorship hopeful Sharif Abdullahi described insecurity as Nigeria’s biggest challenge, promising to build on existing security efforts if elected.
Similarly, Kebbi governorship aspirant and PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga, said restoring security would be his top priority.
Manga blamed worsening insecurity and unemployment on failed economic policies, insisting that economic recovery could only happen after security was restored.
He also advocated the revival of the Almajiri education intervention programme introduced under Jonathan’s administration to improve education and skills acquisition among vulnerable children in northern Nigeria.
