2023: Political atmosphere hots up as PDP, APC elect presidential candidates consecutively

The already politically charged atmosphere in Nigeria ahead of the 2023 general election will hot up in the next two weeks as ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) elect presidential candidates ‘seriatim’ (consecutively).

While the PDP holds its special convention for presidential primaries May 28-29, APC slated May 29-30 for the exercise.

Barring any changes, both main political parties would hold their presidential primaries in Abuja with APC using the Eagle Square and PDP, settling for the National Stadium.

APC had initially fixed the special convention for May 30 -June 1st; governorship election on May 20 (Friday); State House of Assembly, May 22; House of Representatives, May 24 and Senate, May 25.

But Felix Morka, APC national publicity secretary, while addressing journalists at the end of the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday said the timetable has been adjusted.

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Morka said with the adjustment, governorship and House of Representatives primary election will now take place on May 26, Senate and House of Assembly hold on May 27.

“The election appeals for governorship and the House of Representatives will now take place on Friday, the 27th of May 2022; the appeals for the Senate and House of Assembly primaries will take place on Saturday the 28th of May 2022, while special convention and presidential primary will now take place between Sunday, the 29th and Monday 30th of May 2022,” he said.

The APC Spokesperson said the mode of primaries was not decided at the NWC meeting but that that would be contained in the guidelines that would be issued soon, adding that no decision was taken on zoning also.