Identities of 2 disqualified PDP presidential aspirants revealed as appeal panel takes decision

The 2 of the 17 presidential aspirants disqualified by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are former lawmaker, Cosmas Ndukwe, and a US-based medical doctor, Nwachukwu Anakwenze.

The lead opposition party’s screening committee led by former Senate President David Mark on Wednesday in Abuja, maintained its stance on the disqualification of two out of 17 presidential aspirants.

Briefing journalists after the exercise at Legacy House, David Mark, who did not disclose the reasons for their disqualification, simply said they did not meet the requirements.

The former Senate President also noted that the two aspirants will not be refunded their N40m fees paid for nomination and expression of interest forms.

Following the development, the two aspirants appealed against their disqualification by the Senator Mark-led screening committee.

Ndukwe had asked the lower court to stop the party’s primary election planning committee headed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu from going ahead with the exercise after he was declared ineligible to participate in the primary.

The Presidential hopeful further accused Anyanwu of anti-party activities and specifically prayed the court to halt the presidential primary until his suit is determined.

However, on Wednesday, May 4, the appeal committee led by the PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, upheld their disqualification, according to Daily Trust .

The PDP asked the court to strike out the suit for want of jurisdiction and also dismiss it for being “statute-barred”.

The party states that “The cause of action in the suit relates to the internal affairs of a political party and therefore falls within the doctrine of political questions which are non-justiciable and as such the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain it.”

Meanwhile, former Nigerian ministers who were in office while the PDP held power were working to ensure that an eligible candidate emerges to face the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 elections.

The ex-ministers were keeping a close eye on the screening of all presidential aspirants of the PDP.

This move was agreed on during a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday,April 27, in a bid to be conversant with the presidential aspirants and their capacities to deliver credible and good leadership in 2023.

At the meeting, the former public official lamented the worsening insecurity situation and the economic pain most Nigerians are going through presently.