2015: How Legor Idagbo, Mike Aniah, Fidelis Ugbo, Ben Ayade, Larry Odey Made PDP Final List

By Sylvia Etta

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Cross River State has confirmed the names of 5 aspirants as winners of the first round of the screening exercise which the party caucuses conducted across the 18 local government areas.

During the screening exercise, assessment forms were given to the caucus members to score the aspirants based on their presentations to the caucuses.

The party gave a benchmark that any of the candidates who does not score an aggregate of 70 and above will be eliminated from the first round.

Having collated all the forms from the various caucuses and computed the scores, the party says only five of the candidates were able to make the benchmark. They include: Legor Idagbo, Mike Aniah, Fidelis Ugbo, Ben Ayade and Larry Odey.

Out of a total of 18 aspirants who procured the Intent Forms, only 13 procured the Admin Data Form which the party said was a prerequisite for the caucus screening thus only the 13 participated in the first round of the screening exercise.

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The party added that modalities are being put in place for the second round of the screening exercise expected to commence on Monday.

In an exclusive interview with CrossRiverWatch, the Publicity Secretary of PDP in Cross River State, Mr. Joe Obi Bisong said: “We started with 18 aspirants, Legor Idagbo, Mike Aniah, Fidelis Ugbo, Ben Ayade and Larry Odey, Patrick Ugbe, Gerald Adah, Peter Ojie, Tanko Ashang, Father Francis Eworo, Stanley Ubi, Emmanuel Ibeshi, Alice Achi, Fidel Egoro, Peter Oti, Francis Bullem, Joe Agi and Jedy Agba who indicated interest. 5 didn’t buy Data Form, 13 bought Data Admin Forms.

“These 13 people appeared before the various caucuses across the state and the caucuses scored them and sent the results of the scores to us to compute. So we had to compute the results in 18 councils to find an average.

“So we got an average and whoever has below 70 automatically has dropped. So those who have 70 and above were among the first 5. We are now putting modalities together for the second round which will begin on Monday and further eliminate the number to 3 and eventually, we hope to forge a consensus.”

The party leadership met with the aspirants at government house in Calabar by 4pm and later with the PDP stakeholders across the state by 7pm at Peregrino House yesterday evening to brief them on the development.

Most of the aspirants accepted their fate and congratulated their colleagues who made the benchmark.

But Mr. Emmanuel Ibeshi expressed dissatisfaction with the process and made it clear that he has not finished his consultations and said the party was too hasty to pass judgment on him particularly considering the fact that he has not made his presentation to the caucuses.

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