THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) ELECTORAL GUIDELINES FOR PRIMARY ELECTIONS 2014

 

 PREAMBLE

 

In the exercise of the powers conferred on it by Sections 31(2) (j) and 50 of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party and all other powers enabling it in that behalf, the NATIONAL EXECUTIVE. COMMITTEE OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY hereby issues the following Guidelines for the conduct of primaries for the election of Party candidates for the offices or the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Governor of a State, member of tile National Assembly and member of the House of Assembly of a State.

 

The guidelines are prepared to reflect the structural and fundamental changes in the nation’s electoral law, especially those regulating the conduct of Federal and State elections as articulated in the Electoral Act, 2010 (as Amended).

 

Another essential aspect of the law deals with the composition of congresses and conventions for nominating candidates for elections. Section 87(8) provides that “a political appointee at any level shall not be a voting delegate at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of nomination of candidates for any election except where such political appointee is also an officer of a political party”.

 

Members are also to note that under the Amended Electoral Act, 2010:

 

i.          Candidates of political parties will only emerge through primary elections duly conducted and monitored by INEC (Section 87(1) (a).

 

ii.        Political parties are no longer allowed to change or substitute candidates whose names have been submitted to INEC, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate (Section 33).

 

Finally, attention of members seeking nomination on the platform of our Party is drawn to Section 87(10) which prohibits courts from stropping the holding of primaries pending the determination of any suit.

 

The Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections, 2014 of the Peoples Democratic Party are, therefore, drawn up to conform strictly with the provisions of the Party’s Constitution (2012 as amended), the Electoral Act, 2010 (as Amended) and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended).

 

PART I - ELECTION OF AD-HOC DELEGATES

 

1.         National Delegate

 

i.              For the purpose of nominating the Party's Presidential candidate, each of the 774 Local Government Party Chapters shall produce one National Delegate to the Special Conventions through a Special Local Government Congress.

 

ii.            The Party's Executive Officers at the Ward, Local Government, State, Zonal and National levels shall, by virtue of their respective offices in the Party, be automatic delegates to the Local Government Special Congress.

 

Other automatic delegates include: The LG Council Chairman. Deputy Chairman and Councilors, members of National and State Assemblies, members of the Board of Trustees, President/Vice President of the Federal Republic, State Governor and Deputy Governor who are members of the Party from the LGA.

 

2.         Three (3) Ad-Hoc Delegates

 

i.              For the purpose of nominating the Party’s candidates for the offices of Governor of a State, member of the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives), member of the State House of Assembly and election of National Delegate, each Ward Chapter of the Party shall elect three (3) Ward Ad-Hoc Delegates at a Special Ward Congress, at least one of whom shall be a woman. The same delegates shall participate in the Special Congresses for the nomination of the candidates mentioned in this paragraph.

 

ii.            "On the last date for the delivery of nomination papers, the Ward Secretary shall authenticate the ward registers and close them to further registration of new members by signing and dating the last page with the words “register closed”.

 

iii.           The ward register shall be used to accredit all registered members of the Party at the ward between the hours of 8.00am and 12 noon and voting shall commence thereafter.

 

iv.           The ward election of delegates' results shall be collated by the Ward Monitoring Officer at the Local .Government Party office for onward transmission to the State Party office.

 

v.            The State Monitoring Committee shall collate the results of all the Ad-Hoc delegates elections - three (3) Ward Ad-Hoc Delegates and 1 National Delegate from the Local Government Area Congress.

 

3.         Mode of Election of Ad-Hoc Delegates

 

National Delegate, delegates to the Special Local Government Congress shall queue up behind aspirants of their choice, while the three (3) Ad-Hoc delegates shall be elected by all registered and card-carrying members in the Ward. The three (3) aspirants with the highest votes shall be returned elected, Provided that where no woman is among the three (3) aspirants with the highest votes, the female aspirant that scored the highest votes among female aspirants shall be declared the third delegate.

 

4.         Time Table for Election of Delegates and Conduct of Primaries

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Party shall recommend a time tablet or the conduct of Delegates elections and Special Congresses for the nomination of the Party’s candidates for the approval of the National Executive Committee (NEC).

PART II

DELEGATES TO SPECIAL NATIONAL

CONVENTION AND SPECIAL CONGRESSES

 

A.        Procedure for Presidential Nomination

 

i.          For the purpose of nominating the Presidential Candidate, the Party shall hold a Special National Convention in the Federal Capital Territory or any other place within the Federation that is agreed by tile National Executive Committee of the Party where delegates shall vote for each of the aspirants at the designated centre all a date approved by the National Executive Committee NEC).

 

ii.         The aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting 
shall be declared the winner of the Presidential primaries and tile 
aspirant’s name shall be forwarded to the Independent National 
Electoral Commission as the candidate of the Party.

 

B.     Delegates to Special national Convention

 

The following shall be delegates to the Special National Convention:

i.              National Chairman of the Party and other members of the National Executive Committee;

 

ii.            the President and Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who are members of the Party;

 

iii.           all members of the National Assembly, who are members of the Party;

 

iv.           all State Governors and Deputy Governors, who are members of the Party;

 

v.            all gubernatorial candidates of the Party shall be automatic delegates to the convention;

 

vi.           all members of the State Houses of Assembly, who are members of the Party;

 

vii.          members of the Board of Trustees;

 

viii.        all members of the Zonal Working Committee and State Party 
Chairmen and Secretaries including those of the Federal Capital 
Territory, Abuja;

 

ix.           all State Women and Youth Leaders, including those of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;

 

x.            all Party Chairmen of the Local Government Areas;

 

xi.           one national delegate elected from each local government area 
congress:

 

xii.          all elected Local Government Council Chairmen, who are members of the Party;

 

xiii.        former members of the National Working Committee who are still members of the Party;

 

xiv.        former deputy presidents of the senate and duty speakers of the House of Representatives, who are still members of the party.

  

A.        Procedure for Nominating a Senatorial Candidate

 

i.          For the purpose of nominating a Senatorial Candidate, the Party shall hold a Special Congress at a designated centre in the Senatorial District on a date appointed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

 

ii.         The aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of the voting shall be declared the winner of the primaries of the Party and the aspirant’s name shall be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the candidate of the Party, for the particular state.

 

B.        Delegates to Special State Congresses

 

The following shall be delegates to the Special State Congress:

i.              the State Chairman;

 

ii.            the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
who are members of the Party from the State;

 

iii.           the Governor and Deputy Governor of the State, if members of the party;

 

iv.           the Gubernatorial candidate of the Party;

 

v.            the members of the Board of Trustees from the State;

 

vi.           the members of tile State' Executive Committee;

 

vii.          all members of the National and Zonal Executive Committees from tile State;

 

viii.        the members of the National Assembly from tile State and the 
members of the State House of Assembly, who are members of the 
Party;

 

ix.           all elected Local Government Council Chairmen and Vice Chairmen who are members of the Party;

 

x.            all Local Government Party Secretaries and Treasurer’s;

 

xi.           all Local Government Women and Youth Leaders;

 

xii.          three delegates per Ward elected at Ward Congresses, at least one of whom shall be a woman, all of whom shall cease to function at the conclusion of the Congresses for which they were elected;

 

xiii.        fanner members of the State Working Committee who are still 
members of the Party;

 

xiv.        former Governors and Deputy Governors produced by the Party who are still members of the Party, and

 

xv.          former Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the State House of Assembly produced by the Party who are still members of the Party.

 

A.        Procedure for Nominating a Senatorial Candidate

i           For the purpose of nominating a Senatorial Candidate, the Party shall hold a Special Congress at a designated centre in the Senatorial District on a date approved by National Executive Committee (NEC).

 

ii          The aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting, shall emerge as the Party's candidate.

 

B.        Delegates to Senatorial Special Congress

 

The delegates to the Senatorial Special Congress shall be all delegates to the State Congress from the Senatorial District in question.

 

A.        Procedure for Nominating Member of House of Representatives

 

i           For the purpose of nominating a House of Representatives Candidate, the Party shall hold a Special Congress at a designated centre in the Federal Constituency on a date approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

 

ii          The aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting, shall emerge as the Party's candidate.   

 

B.        Delegates to House of Representatives Special Congress 

The delegates to the Special House of Representatives Congress shall be all delegates to the State Congress from the Federal Constituency in question.

A.        Procedure for State Assembly Nomination   

 

a.         For the purpose of nominating a State Assembly Candidate, the Party shall hold a Special Congress at a designated centre in the State Assembly Constituency on a date approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC).    

 

b.         The aspirant with, the highest number of votes at the end of voting, shall, emerge as the Party's candidate.

 

B.        Delegates to State Assembly Special Congress

 

The delegates to the State Assembly Congress shall be:

i           All delegates to the State, Congress from the State Assembly Constituency; and

 

ii          Other members of the Local Government Executive Committee from the State Assembly Constituency who are not delegates to the State Congress.__._,_.___