Ahead of the 2015 general election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday in Bauchi screened 17 governorship aspirants from Bauchi, Yobe, Taraba and Adamawa seeking to contest on the platform of the party in the 2015 general election.
The aspirants had appeared before the screening panel chaired by a former governor, Achike Udenwa, who assured them of fairness.
He said any of the aspirants that felt dissatisfied with the panel’s decision was free to appeal.
The four governorship aspirants that appeared before the panel from Taraba include immediate former acting governor, Garba Umar, former minister for Niger Delta, Darius Isiaku, Mr David Kente and Amb Musa John.
Former minister of state for finance, Dr Yarima Ngama and a PDP youth leader, Hassan Kapayos were the only governorship aspirants from Yobe at the screening.
In troubled Adamawa, Gov. Bala Ngilari, former EFCC chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, Auwal Tukur, the son of former PDP national chairman, Bamanga Tukur, Sen. Abubakar Girei, Markus Gindiri, Aliyu Modibbo and Brig. Gen Aliyu Kama (rtd) appeared before the panel.
Aspirants from Bauchi State include former health minister, Muhammad Pate, Sen. Nazifi Gamawa, a member of the House of Representatives, Auwal Jatau and Aminu Hammayo.
Some of the aspirants told newsmen that they were ready to lead their states to optimal growth and prosperity.
One of them, Aminu Hammayo, said he plans to develop the economic potentials of Bauchi state to impact positively on the lives of the people.
He said that the state has the capacity to develop, if the natural resources endowed it by God were fully harnessed.
“I have worked for the state for more than seven years and I believe I have the capacity to develop it economically, bearing in mind the potentials it is endowed with,? he said.
Another contender from the state, Dr Muhammad Pate, said he was happy so far with the way the exercise went.
He said that he has fresh ideas to build on what the current government has done to further transform the state.
“I am a development professional and if given the chance I will deal with issues like unemployment and welfare of the people.
“The public service will also be catered for, and as professionals we can do that with the help of the citizens of the state?.
Mr Darius Isiaku said his main agenda is to ensure the protection of lives and property in Taraba, which has been bedevilled by local conflicts and insurgency.
“If I am successful in my bid, I will make sure that the state is secured and problems bedeviling it will be solved”.
