The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Screening Committee for Edo State, led by Governor Caleb Mutfwang, has successfully cleared all ten aspirants who appeared before it on Monday.
News About Nigeria gathered that eight out of the ten aspirants were present to receive their clearance certificates from the PDP National Organising Secretary, Capt. Umar Bature (Retd.), at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.
Capt. Umar Bature (Retd.) confirmed the successful clearance, stating, “All ten aspirants were cleared.”
However, one aspirant, Balogun Sunday, who paid N5 million for the expression of interest form, did not undergo screening as he did not purchase the nomination forms.
The ten aspirants cleared by the screening committee are:
Hon. OmOsede Igbenedion, Anslem U. Ojezua Esq., Hon. Felix E. Akhabue, Asuerinme Ighodalo, Hon. Comrade Philips Shaibu, Arthur Esene, Omoregie Ogbegie Ihama, Amb. Prof. Martin Uhomoibh, Osaro Osaze Onaiwu and Umoru Adizetu Hadizat
In a related development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced its preparedness to oversee bye-elections scheduled for Saturday in Cross River State.
Mrs. Tonia Nwobi, the Commission’s spokesperson in Cross River, confirmed the readiness during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Tuesday.
The bye-elections will be conducted for two state constituencies and one federal constituency, covering 34 polling units across four local government areas in the state.
Nwobi assured that the necessary logistics and security measures had been implemented to ensure a free, fair, and credible exercise.
She added that over 100,000 voters are expected to participate, with INEC staff overseeing the process instead of ad hoc staff.
