8th November, 2014
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) screening committee for party primaries into Kogi House of Assembly has certified 103 aspirants for the contest.
Mr Colet Odenigbo, Chairman of the committee, announced this while addressing newsmen after the screening at the state secretariat of the PDP on Saturday.
He said 105 aspirants were screened.
Odenigbo said the process provided the aspirants the opportunity to present their credentials.
“Our duty here today was to screen those credentials and ensure that they met the party requirements in line with regulations and other laws of the land.”
Odenigbe described the exercise as the first stage of the electioneering process into the assembly.
He said the committee was confronted with an avalanche of highly qualified candidates.
He said that it screened out two aspirants for their inability to meet the requirements.
He said six were initially screened out for their inability to produce NYSC discharge certificates while three aspirants withdrew from the process voluntarily.
Odenigbo said the number of women in the race was encouraging.
“You know PDP does not charge nomination fees from women. So, I feel that the policy is encouraging women to participate in the political process and that was evident in the number of women that we saw here.”
The committee chairman said all the women, including the only female member of the current assembly, Hajia Habibat Mohammed-Deen of Ankpa 1 constituency, scaled the hurdle.
Odenigbo said the exercise was flawless, scuffle-free and expressed delight over its conduct.
He said the committee would submit its report in Abuja.