The ongoing Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 2023 presidental aspirants screening panel have disqualified two out of 17 presidental candidates, The Network gathered.
The Chairman of the screening, Senator David Mark said the two ineligible candidates would forfeit their N40 million they paid for the forms.
Mark refused to give out the names of the disqualified candidates and the reasons behind their disqualification, even after journalists pressured him to disclose the names.
The Network gathered that the aspirants were disqualified because of their membership and financial status.
Those who went for the screening today were two-term Governor of Kwara State and immediate past President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Speaker, House of Representatives, and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; former President of the Senate and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim.
Others were former Minister of Federal Capital Territory and Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed; former Minister of State for Education and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; outgoing Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel; 2019 PDP vice presidential candidate and former ANAMBRA State Governor, Peter Obi; former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; United States-based medical doctor, Nwachukwu Anakwenze; and media mogul, Dele Momodu.
Also going through the screening are Investment Banker and Economist, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; a Pharmacist, Sam Ohuabunwa; former Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Cosmos Ndukwe; Charles Ugwu and Tareila Diana who is the only female aspirant in the race.
Investigation revealed that the David Mark panel considered some critical parameters in the screening of the aspirants.
These are membership status, financial status among other requirements were used by the PDP panel to disqualify the two presidential aspirants.
