PDP releases Guidelines for Primaries

The National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met yesterday and ratified the guidelines for the party primaries for all elective offices. The NEC also ratified the fees to be paid for expression of interest/ nomination fees by aspirants.

Special congresses election at state assembly constituencies holds nationwide on October 2, 2010, while the run-off if any is slated to hold on October 4, 2010. Electoral appeals arising from the exercise holds on October 5, 2010.

Gubernatorial primaries is to hold from October 6-8, 2010. On October 6, 2010 there will be special congresses (Primary Elections) and LGAs in senatorial district 1. On October 7, 2010, it will be the turn of LGAs in North or West 2, while on October 8, 2010, LGAs it will hold in senatorial district 3. Electoral appeals is fixed for October 10, 2010.

For the National Assembly election, October 14, 2010 was fixed for the primaries for the senate, while the Electoral Appeals that may come up thereafter, is slated for October 15, 2010.

The presidential election primaries is staggered to hold from October 18- 20, 2010. The screening of the aspirants is slated for October 14, 2010, while the screening appeals holds October 17, 2010.

On October 17, 2010, states in North Central and South East zones. It will be the turn of states in the North West and South south zones on October 18, 2010. The states that comprise North East and South West zones of the country will hold their primaries on October 20, 2010.

The ratification of the outcome of the national convention will hold on October 23, 2010.

For the expression of interest/nomination fees, NEC approved N10 million, as nomination fee for presidential aspirants and N1 million for expression of interest.

For the gubernatorial, the nomination fee is to cost N5 million and expression of interest for N500,000.

The aspirants for the office of the senate will pay the sum of N2 million as nomination fee, while another N200,000 is for the expression of interest.

The party fixed the sum of N1 million for House of Representatives aspirant nomination fee, while a corresponding N100,000 is for expression of interest.

However, the party exempted all female aspirants from paying nomination fees, “ but are expected to pay the expression of interest fees at every level.”