PDP PRIMARIES TIMETABLE OUT
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has formally released its timetable and guidelines for the 2011 general elections, slating January 13 for presidential primaries. According to the timetable signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Alkali and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday, the screening of presidential aspirants would be held in Abuja on January 11.
The presidential primaries will be a special national convention to be held in Abuja.
Screening of gubernatorial aspirants will hold at various states' PDP secretariats nationwide on December 21 and December 22, while special congresses and run-offs (if any) to elect gubernatorial candidates shall hold in eligible states on January 9.
For the National Assembly, the timetable fixed screening for both Senate and House of Representatives on December 29 and December 30.
Special congresses for the election of both Senate and House of Representatives will hold at Federal Constituency headquarters and Senatorial District headquarters on January 5.
Screening for state Assembly aspirants will hold in all state capitals on December 21 and December 22 while state Assembly constituencies nationwide will come up on January 3, while run-offs (if any) will also come up on the same day.
Other events in the timetable include the announcement and notification of INEC of PDP special congresses and convention which will hold on December 16.
Publication of notices of special/national convention and purchase and return of Expression of Interest/Nomination Forms by aspirants to elective offices will hold on December 16.
Furthermore, election of three ad-hoc delegates in ward congresses nationwide comes up on December 28 for the election of one national delegate in each of the 774 local government areas nationwide.
The PDP scribe added that the names of all successful candidates would be submitted to INEC on December 15 and advised aspirants to abide by the timetable.
'Names of all successful candidates will be submitted to INEC on December 15. All aspirants are advised to ensure they comply strictly with the guideline to avoid encumbrances,' Alkali stated.
On the constituents of the screening committee, Alkali said there was a procedure for setting up the committee, and those who will be in the committee will be informed in due course.