By Chuks Okocha

As part of its efforts to meet the December 11 deadline for political parties to submit the names of their candidates for the February 11, 2012 governorship election in Bayelsa State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday submitted the name of Hon. Henry Sierake Dickson as its governorship candidate.

Also, Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, Senator Abubakar Gada and former Minister of Sports, Alhaji Yousuf Sulieman, will face the PDP governorship screening committee in Kaduna today ahead of the party’s primary election.

Though the PDP is still at the Court of Appeal over the validity of the election of Dickson as its candidate and the hearing will hold December 12, THISDAY reliably gathered that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at its meeting on Wednesday directed that the name of Dickson be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) immediately.

A source from INEC informed THISDAY that like other political parties, the PDP has successfully complied with the deadline of December 11 for the submission of the name of its governorship candidate.

According to the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, political parties are expected to submit the names of their respective flag bearers not later than 60 days to the election date.

Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State, who was disqualified from contesting the governorship primary election, has gone to a Federal High Court challenging his disqualification.

Though the PDP conducted its primary won by Dickson won, Sylva prayed the court to annul the election, a decision that made the PDP through its National Legal Adviser, Chief Olusola Oke, to appeal for the stopping of proceedings at the Federal High Court presided by Justice G.O. Kolawole on the ground that no court can stop the primary election of any political party.

Both parties to the matter have submitted their written briefs to the Court of Appeal and it is expected for the court to decide on the substantive appeal on December 12.

THISDAY gathered that Dickson’s name was submitted with retired Rear Admiral Jonah Gboriibiogha John as his running mate. When THISDAY contacted an aide to Sylva on the submission of the list, he simply said, “be rest assured that Sylva’s name will be in the ballot at the February 11 2012”, explaining that the governor was still exploring all available options before taking the final decision.

“Though, the deadline for the political parties to submit names to INEC is December 11 which is 60 days to the election date of February 11, but there is a 30 days period (January 11, 2012) for any of the political parties to substitute the names of its candidates, if they so wish,” he said.

Also, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has chosen a lawyer, Kamela Okara, to fly its flag in the governorship election. Meanwhile, all the three governorship aspirants that purchased the Sokoto state governorship election nomination forms are expected to appear before a five-man screening committee in Kaduna today.

The names of the members of the screening committee were yet to be made public as at last night