The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has commenced its screening for candidates contesting various positions across the country ahead of the 2011 general elections.

The screening which started on Tuesday  was done in the zones and the 36 states, including the Federal  Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. This will enable the party to choose those qualified and capable to go for the party primaries slated next January in the states.

At the south-south zonal secretariat, in Port Harcourt, governors, Senate and the House of Representatives aspirants from Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Cross River and Edo States were still being screened while state Assembly aspirants were screened at their various state party secretariats.

The on-going screening in Rivers State, both at the south-south zonal PDP secretariat and the state party secretariat has been peaceful and orderly.

Majority of the aspirants have been screened although the screening committee of National Executive Council of the Party have refused to make statements concerning the exercise.

The publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Mr. Celestine Ebemeri confirmed that the exercise has been peaceful since it started and commended aspirants for their conduct so far.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had in November fixed January 15 for the end of party primaries while December 1, gave room for political parties to commence public campaigns.

The timetable which was released by the commission and signed by the chairman, Prof. Attaihiru Jega also fixed April 2011 for the Senate and House of Representatives Election while the Presidential election comes up on the 9th of April. The Governors and State House of Assemblies will have the elections on the 16th of April.

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has restructured his campaign organization in the South/South geo-political zone with  Prof Sam Oyovbaire, as the new zonal Coordinator.   The reorganisation came two weeks after the South South cordinator and  Commisioner of Special Duties, Davies Ikanya Ibiam and Commissioner for Urban and Rural Development in Rivers State Bar.Gna Osima resigned their positions in the campaign structure.   Oyovbaire an indigene of Delta State was before the emergence of Atiku as northern consensus candidate the Director of Policy & Strategy of the IBB Campaign Organization.   Chief Eze Chukuwuemeka Eze, the South-South Publicity Secretary of Atiku Campaign Organisation said in a statement to our Political Correspondent in Port Harcourt on Tuesday that Oyovbaire accepted the appointment.   The Tide recalled that Dr Davies Ibiam-Ikanya and Mr Osima Gina both Commissioners in Rivers State were last month announced as South/South and Rivers State campaign coordinators for Atiku but the two later resigned two days accepting the offer.     Three deputy zonal coordinators also named are Prince Tonye Princewill (Rivers and Bayelsa States), Chief Fred Sowho (Edo and Delta States) and Dr. Essien Ibok for Akwa-Ibom and Cross Rivers States.   A cleric Bishop Boma Lawson was appointed as South-South Zonal Secretary while Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze is the Zonal Publicity Secretary.   Eze in the statement said that Dr Edith Wele former Women Leader of Rivers State Action Congress of Nigeria was appointed the State Coordinator for Rivers State with Messrs Onengiye Mbrelolomari as Rivers State Organising Secretary.   He noted that members of IBB, Guasu, Saraki teams were fused into five committees to assist the campaign organization in the onerous task of mobilizing support for Atiku.   The publicity secretary disclosed that both the south/south and Rivers campaign organizations have been inaugurated to achieve its goals in 2011 election. 

King Banigo