By FESTUS AHON

ASABA — FORMER Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Chief Andrew Oru, Mr. Solomon Edojah and Mr. Solomon Udele, were Sunday, screened by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, screening committee to run in the party’s primary election slated for today.

The aspirants, who came out of the Delta State PDP secretariat with smiles at 5:30pm, expressed satisfaction with the screening process. Chief Oru, who came out first, said: “There is no consensus candidate. We are all going to slug it out in the primary today.

“I am quite satisfied with the process of the screening which we just finished. Members of the screening committee were quite gentle in their approach and respectful too. However, the process leading to the screening is being rushed and it gives certain persons who might not quite understand the legal provisions room to think that there are some underhand dealings or that there was an attempt to rush some people into some form of quagmire.”

Chief  Aguariavwodo on his part, said: “It was a family affair. We were treated very well by the screening committee members that came. And we have confidence in all that they have done. It shows that PDP has come a long way and we are very satisfied and happy.”

Also, Mr Udele, expressed satisfaction with the screening process, adding, “The screening committee members are dynamic and good. They displayed high level of transparency. I am very optimistic that I will pick the party’s ticket as we go into the primary election on Tuesday (today).”

Presidency, PDP have not adopted any aspirant —Edojah

Meanwhile,  an aspirant in the Delta Central senatorial district, Mr. Solomon Edojah, has described as false, wicked and malicious, rumours that the Presidency had adopted Chief Agwariavwodo as the candidate of PDP, for the October 5, bye-election in the district.

Speaking with newsmen in Ughelli, yesterday, Edojah said: “That statement is totally false. We have cleared from the Presidency and it is false, malicious, wicked and it is intended to return us to the status quo, the status quo before 2011. Such rumours cost us our fortunes in Delta Central. We lost the last election because there were similar rumours that somebody had been anointed and the result is that we are still licking our wounds.

“We cannot return to the era of 2011 where certain persons were being anointed against the will of the people. The time has come to practise true democracy. After fourteen years, we can no longer be toddlers in politics.

“That rumour is wicked, we have cleared from the National Chairman of the party, and he said it was totally untrue. We have also cleared from the Presidency, which said it was totally untrue. Their true interest has one common denominator, victory of PDP. That is the only interest they have.

“They want PDP to recapture Delta Central, knowing full well that PDP has always won Delta Central from 1999 until the mischief makers came up with rumours in 2011 and then we lost, particularly those who have hatred for the Urhobo people. Anybody sponsoring that rumour is wicked, he has a generic hatred for the Urhobo man or woman and for the good people of Delta Central.

“Therefore, I am using this opportunity to call on the good people of Delta Central, all the delegates that will come tomorrow (today) during the primaries. They must come out in large numbers and vote their conscience and of course, vote for me because I am truly going to represent them.”