Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi state, says Peter Obi satisfied all requirements set by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for its presidential aspirants.
Egwu spoke on Tuesday after Obi’s screening at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.
According to him, the screening committee spent nearly two hours assessing Obi before clearing him for the presidential race.
“We spent almost two hours screening him,” Egwu said.
“And he satisfied all the requirements stipulated by our party for a candidate to emerge as a presidential candidate.”
The former governor said Obi met the conditions outlined in the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
“We found him very qualified and subsequently he was cleared,” he said.
Asked whether Obi was now the only presidential aspirant in the party, Egwu said the development effectively leaves the party with one cleared candidate for now.
“That’s what it means,” he said.
“We have only one candidate who is eminently qualified, having satisfied all the conditions.”
Egwu, however, noted that the sale of nomination forms and screening process were still ongoing and would continue until May 26.
The former governor said the party was introducing reforms aimed at changing Nigeria’s political culture.
“We want to tell Nigerians that this is a new party,” he said.
“A party that has come to change the way things are done in this country.”
He added that the NDC intends to demonstrate internal democracy, sportsmanship and youth inclusion in its processes.
“It’s not business as usual,” Egwu said.
“Election is all about service. It’s not about grabbing money or suppression of people.”
The former governor also urged aspirants within the party to see elections as a contest of ideas rather than a do-or-die affair.
“Everybody must not be president, senator or house of rep,” he said.
“If for any reason you don’t succeed, you wait for next time.”
