ELECTION 2019: PDP Releases Guidelines For Presidential Aspirants…Exempts Female aspirants From Paying N10m Nomination Fee

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday released guidelines for the conduct of its presidential primaries ahead of the 2019 general elections.

In a 40-page document titled ‘Electoral Guideline for the PDP, Directorate of Organisation and Mobilisation’, the party said its presidential aspirants are to pay a total sum of N12m for both nomination and expression of interest forms, respectively.

According to a report by The Punch, female aspirants are to pay only N2m for expression of interest form as they are exempted from the payment of N10m nomination fee.

The document that explained these modalities was signed by the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus and the National Secretary of the party, Senator Umaru Tsauri.

The party said all aspirants are to swear to an oath to abide by the decisions of the party on the conduct of its primary elections.

The document said each aspirant must be nominated by not less than “60 persons from at least two-thirds of all the states of the federation who shall be registered voters in their respective local government areas and also registered members of the party.”

The document added, “A copy of the voter’s registration card of the aspirant shall be attached to the duly completed nomination form.

“To be accompanied by a sworn declaration made before a Commissioner of Oaths or notary public; undertaking to abide by the guidelines, all laws and any rules or regulations made by the party for the conduct of the primary elections.

“The decision of the National Executive Committee of the party on all primary elections shall be final and binding.”

The party stated that its NEC would appoint a Presidential Screening Committee on the recommendation of the NWC.

The committee, it said “shall consist of a chairman and eight others. One from each geo-political zone, plus two women (one from the North and another from the South).”

It added that aggrieved aspirants, who fail the screening exercise, would be free to appeal to a panel that would be led by Secondus, which will also include all other members of the NWC.

On the payment of fees, the party said, “An aspirant shall obtain the expression of interest forms code PD002/P upon payment of the non-refundable fee of N2m from the national secretariat of the party or such place as may be designated by the NWC of the party, and, on completion, return same to the national secretariat.

“An aspirant shall obtain Nomination Form code PD003/P from the national secretariat of the party or such other place designated by the NWC of the party and evidenced upon payment of the prescribed non-refundable fee of N10m, save that female aspirants shall be exempted from the payment of the prescribed nomination fee.”

The document added that all the aspirants must be “duly registered financial members of the party.”

It was however silent on the modalities to determine the financial status of the aspirants.

While it said the presidential candidate would emerge through “modified open secret system,” it also added that the “aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting shall be declared the winner of the primary.”

The document was however silent on the date and venue of the special national convention where the candidate would emerge.

The party indicated that the “date and venue for the convention would be made known, at least seven days before the event (convention).”

Part of the qualifications listed for its presidential aspirants are that they must be citizens of Nigeria by birth and that they must not be below the age of 40.

The aspirants are also expected to be registered voters and must attach a copy of their voter card and registration cards to their duly completed form code PD003/P.

Recall that a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; a former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau; Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo; Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose; and a former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN) have all earlier declared interest to contest for the party’s presidential ticket.