PDP Ticket: Appeal Panel Upholds Disqualification Of Anakwenze, Ndukwe

The presidential screening appeal panel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday upheld the disqualification of Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze and Chief Cosmos Ndukwe from vying for the party’s presidential ticket.

While it was confirmed that Anakwenze appeared before the panel, as at the time of filing this report, it could not be confirmed if Ndukwe appeared before the panel.

The appeal panel is chaired by the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, with members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and six members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) also on the panel.

The two presidential aspirants were last Friday disqualified by the party’s presidential screening committee chaired by former Senate President David Mark.

Briefing reporters shortly after the screening exercise, Mark said the two aspirants failed to meet the party’s screening requirements, but he declined to make clarifications.

Similarly, the appeal committee also did not state reasons for the disqualification.

Anakwenze, who emerged from the conference room after appearing before the appeal committee, did not answer questions from reporters.

With the disqualification of the two, the PDP is now left with 15 presidential aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket.