Forum of PDP Former Presiding Officers of State Houses of Assembly has set up a 10-man committee to recommend a presidential aspirant to be adopted by its members in the party’s forthcoming primary election.

The forum disclosed this in a communiqué issued by forum’s chairman and former Gombe speaker, Inuwa Garba, after its meeting on Tuesday.

Mr Garba said the committee, to be chaired by him, was saddled with the responsibility to explore all discussions and submissions made by the presidential aspirants to the forum and their past records for onward recommendations.

He explained that the committee was also expected to further liaise with the presidential aspirants and the PDP leadership to ensure credible and successful presidential primaries as well as victory in 2023 general elections.

“We have received submissions and interactions with most of the presidential aspirants. The forum decided to form this committee so that we can further check and see their capacity, credibility and make recommendations to the larger general assembly of the forum,” explained Mr Garba. “This is for us to take a decision on behalf of all of us on which candidate can we unanimously support so that we can ensure successful conduct in the primaries and in the general election.”

He called on all PDP members and the leadership at all levels to remain committed and dedicated to the golden ideals of the party to achieve success at all levels in the 2023 general elections.

Asked on the forum’s decision on consensus candidates, Mr Garba stated that the decision was for the party and not the forum.

“We are not a political party. PDP is a political party and they’ve set up a committee on this issue. Whatever the party resolves is binding on us, we are not to determine or to decide for the party,” he further explained. “So, we are not here to decide for the PDP, but as far as this forum is concerned, we are looking at (a) larger country, Nigeria.”

(NAN)