PDP Commences Sales of Nomination Forms for Primaries Oct 27 03 Oct 2014 Font Size: a / A PDP logo Restricts party officials on endorsement of aspirants Chuks Okocha in Abuja In an apparent response to the notice of the 2015 general election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thursday said the sale of its nomination forms for all categories of elections would commence on October 27 and end on October 30, stating also that these dates are irreversible. The party also warned stakeholders against endorsement of aspirants as only the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party has the sole constitutional right to do so. PDP had earlier fixed the presidential nomination fee at N20 million with a N2 million fee for Expression of Interest. The governorship nomination form is fixed at N10 million with the Expression of Interest Form to be obtained at N1 million. Also, the PDP leadership warned aides of elected officials to steer clear of party administration. The nomination fee for the Senate is fixed at N4million and N2million for the House of Representatives. The Expression of Interest Form is fixed at N400,000 for Senate and House of Representatives aspirants. The nomination fee for the state House of Assembly members is slated for N1million, while the Expression of Interest Form is fixed at N200,000. Though female nomination fee is free, but they are to pay for the Expression of Interest form. Also, by the PDP guidelines, all elected officials on the party’s platform seeking to contest the any of the primary election of the party are expected to resign their party office by October 20, 2014, (seven days to the commencement of the sale of nomination forms) In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, the PDP said: “Following the release of our detailed guidelines for congresses and primaries for the 2015 general elections, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP wishes to inform all aspirants for various positions on its platform that the closing date for the sale of party nomination forms is October 30, 2014.” The PDP in the statement, warned stakeholders that it would not extend the deadlines for the sales of the nomination forms, saying: “All aspirants are therefore advised to adhere strictly to this directive as the party shall not extend the sales beyond this date.” The NWC urged all aspirants to carefully study the guidelines and party’s code of conduct for elections and ensure that they conduct their campaigns accordingly as the PDP shall not condone any aberration or abuse of its internal electoral process. PDP in the statement frowned at the current gale of endorsements of aspirants by some stakeholders in their states, saying: “The NWC has noted the activities of some persons and groups supporting some aspirants for the 2015 general election at the state level. Whilst the party cannot stop individuals, groups or communities from endorsing persons of their choice, the national leadership wishes to restate in the strongest possible terms that elected party officials at the state, local government and ward levels must not be involved in such, as they must remain as unbiased umpires in the nomination process. “For the avoidance of doubt, only the NEC, as an organ of the party, can officially endorse a candidate under the PDP constitution. All party officials at all levels are expected to be guided by this.” According to Metuh, the national leadership of the party had noted the rush with which certain aides of elected officials make comments relating to the administration of the party and its official position on issues. “This is absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated as it is capable of conveying wrong messages regarding the position of the party especially on nomination issues. “Consequently, the PDP hereby issues a strong warning to all such aides to forthwith desist from making comments to explain the actions of the party or its official position on any matter whatsoever. All aides of elected officials should by this directive restrict themselves to the confines of their official briefs and refrain from trying to get involved in party administration,” the statement said.
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 06:47:28 +0000
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