By Henry umoru
Panic is building up in the ruling PDP ahead of Thursday’s presidential primaries following the manifestation of lapses that are capable of threatening the exercise.

One of these is the non constitution yet of the committee to screen those aspiring to fly the party’s flag.

The party, in its electoral guideliens for the presidential primaries, had spoken of a 10-member presidential primaries screening committee whose to screen presidential aspirants.

According to the party the Presidential Screening Committee shall consist of a Chairman, a Secretary and 8 members. One shall be appointed from each of the six geo-political zones and two women; one from the North and one from the South. The result of the screening shall be announced and a copy shall be prominently displayed at the National Secretariat of the Party. Any aspirant aggrieved by the decision of the Presidential Screening Committee may appeal in writing to the Presidential Screening Appeal Panel within 24 hours or soon thereafter from the time of the announcement of the result of the screening and the Presidential Screening Appeal shall pronounce its decision on the appeal within 48 hours or soon thereafter of the receipt of the petition.’’

However, no such committee had been constituted as at Thursday evening. The Guidelines had stipulated that the names will be approved by the party’s NEC, but from all indications, there will be no NEC meeting even before the National Convention coming up on Thursday.

The delay in drawing up the list is already causing confusion as opposing camps object to names proposed to head the committee. For instance, when former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme’s name came up, Jonathan’s camp kicked, saying he had shown preference for Atiku Abubakar, and would biased.

The name of former Secretary-General of the, Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, also came up but was rejected because he is not a card carrying member of the PDP. Similarly, the name of  former Chairman of the party, Dr. Amadu Ali came up but was rejected.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had raised the alarm over what he described as secrecy surrounding the process and plans to manipulate it for an aspirant.

Already almost all the hotels in Abuja have been booked ahead of the primaries.

It was also gathered that many hotels in neibouring states like Nasarawa, Kogi and Niger states have been fully booked ahead of the primaries.

Vanguard also gathered that against the background of the bomb blasts in the nation’s capital city, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed has promised adequate security, even as he is working in collaboration with the neighbouring state governors of Nasarawa, Kogi, Kaduna, Benue and Niger to provide adequate security.

Those expected at the Eagle Square

In line with PDP’s guidelines for the primaries, those expected as delegates are the National Chairman of the party and other members of the National Executive Committee (NEC); the President and Vice President; all PDP members in the National Assembly; all PDP Governors and their deputies, and all governorship candidates; all members of the State House of Assembly; all members of the Zonal Working Committee and state Party Chairmen and Secretaries including those of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Other delegates are all Women and Youth leaders, including those of the FCT, all party Chairmen of the Local government Areas, one national delegate elected from the local government area congress; all elected local government Council Chairmen, former members of the National Working Committee who are still members of the PDP, former Deputy Presidents of the Senate and Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives.