The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has directed ministers and political office holders with governorship aspirations to resign their membership of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) latest by October 20 to enable them contest for the primary elections of the party.
In the guidelines for the governorship primaries, the party said the last date for resignation and retirement of public officers, political appointees, civil servants and party officials who are aspirants is October 20.
Some of the ministers and cabinet members expected to resign owing to the directive are the Minister of Information and Orientation, Labaran Maku (Nasarawa); Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu (Abia); Minister of State for Education, Nyeson Wike (Rivers); Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos); and the Special Adviser to the President on Monitoring, Sylvester Monye, among others.
Also billed to resign are the party chairman of Delta State, Peter Nwaoboshi, and his counterpart in Bayelsa State who want to make a bid for the Senate.Also, according to the guidelines for the PDP primaries, the purchase and return of forms is slated for between October 27 and 28, while the ward congresses to elect the three ad hoc delegates is slated for November 1.
In the same manner, the local government area congresses for the national delegates and the purchase and return of forms is between November 3 and 5, while the local government congresses are expected to take place on November 8 and appeals thereof are expected to take place on November 10, 2014.The guidelines further indicated that the closing date for primaries for the state Houses of Assembly is November 3, screening is slated for November 10, while appeals on screening is slated for November 12.
In addition, House of Representatives primaries have been slated for November 19, while the appeals thereof are scheduled for November 21; senatorial primaries are expected to take place on November 22 and the appeals, if any, are expected to take place on November 24.
For the governorship primaries, the closing date for the return of forms is November 8, screening of governorship aspirants is November 13, appeals on screening are expected to take place on November 17.The state primaries are billed to take place on November 29, while appeals, if any are billed to hold on December 1, 2014.
Though the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan, the party’s presidential primary election is categorised in the following order: The closing date for the return of forms is fixed for November 15, the screening of presidential aspirants (if any) is billed for November 24, the appeal is expected to take place on November 26, while the National Convention to ratify Jonathan as well as amend the constitution of the party is slated for December 6.
The guidelines for the presidential nomination also state: “For the purpose of nominating the presidential candidate, the party shall hold a special convention in the Federal Capital Territory where delegates shall vote for each of the aspirants at the designated centre.
“The aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting shall be declared the winner of the presidential primary and the aspirant’s name shall be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the candidate of the party.”
In terms of qualifications, governorship aspirants must not be less than 35 years; must present tax clearance certificates; have not been indicted for any misconduct; must be of sound mind; and have not been convicted of any offence involving homicide, fraud, dishonesty or involved in the sale of narcotic drugs or any psychotropic substances or has been adjudged guilty of treason or treasonable felony.
The aspirants must be nominated by 45 party members from at least two-thirds of the local governments within the state who shall be registered voters in their respective local government areas and registered members of the party.
The aspirants are also expected to attach a duplicate copy of their party membership documents to the duly completed nomination forms.
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