Following the release of Notice of Election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2015 general election, the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has urged aspirants vying for various positions on the party’s platform to adhere strictly to the closing date for sale of party nomination forms.
Consequently, the party reaffirmed that sales of party forms will commence on October 27 and end on October 30, 2014.
A statement released by Olisa Metuh, the party’s national publicity secretary, called on party officials to desist from endorsing party aspirants.
According to Metuh, only the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party can officially endorse any candidate.
The statement read: “Following the release of our detailed guidelines for congresses and primaries for the 2015 general elections, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) wishes to inform all aspirants for various positions on its platform that the closing date for the sale of party nomination forms is October 30, 2014.
“All aspirants are therefore, advised to adhere strictly to this directive as the party shall not extend the sales beyond this date.
“The NWC urges all aspirants to carefully study the guidelines and party’s code of conduct for elections and ensure that they conduct their campaigns accordingly as the PDP shall not condone any aberration or abuse of its internal electoral process.
“In the same vein, the NWC has noted the activities of some persons and groups supporting some aspirants for the 2015 general election at the
state level. Whilst the party cannot stop individuals, groups or communities from endorsing persons of their choice, the national leadership wishes to restate in the strongest possible terms that
elected party officials at the state, local government and ward levels must not be involved in such, as they must remain as unbiased umpires in
the nomination process.
“For the avoidance of doubt, only the National Executive Committee (NEC), as an organ of the party can officially endorse a candidate under the PDP constitution. All party officials at all levels are expected to be guided by this.”
