[size=18pt] PDP Presidential Primary Kicks off in N’Central, S’East Oct 18[/size]
•Governorship - Oct 8, Senate - Oct 14, Reps - Oct 12 •Ministers, commissioners must resign to be delegates
From Chuks Okocha in Abuja, 09.15.2010


After a crucial meeting yesterday, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) finally approved the much-expected timetable for the primary elections of the party.
Also approved was the order of elections over which the party’s governors and the presidency had been engaged in a battle of wits and which in the end went the way of the governors.

Following the timetable, presidential primaries will begin on Saturday October 18 and by October 23, the party’s presidential flag bearer is expected to emerge while governorship candidates will emerge latest by October 8.
The meeting also rose with a directive to all ministers and state commissioners seeking to be special delegates at the convention and state congresses to resign within 24 hours.

According to the guidelines and timetable for the election, screening of presidential aspirants comes up on October 14 while appeals arising from the screening will be entertained by October 17.
The special conventions (presidential primary election) in the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja on the six zonal basis is as follows - states in North-central and South-east zones-October 18, states in North-west and South-south zones-October 19, and states in North-east and South-west zones-October 20.

The ratification convention which will mark the final emergence of the presidential candidate comes up on October 23.
For PDP governorship candidates expected to emerge on October 8, the details of the activities leading to that date are as follows: Screening of aspirants- September 25 – 26 2010, screening appeal hearing- September 27 – 28.
The special congresses (primary elections) and local government area congresses in senatorial districts are as follows in staggered form: local government areas in North or West senatorial districts-October 6 and 7 while in local governments in South and East senatorial districts - October 8.

The appeal, if any, is expected to be entertained on October 10.
For the National Assembly, the timetable is as follows: Screening of National and state assembly aspirants September 21 – 24 and screening appeals (National and state assembly) September 25 – 26 2010.
The main election which is the special congresses (primary elections) for House of Representa-tives aspirants is slated for October 12 while senatorial aspirants will have their day on October 14.
The appeal, if any, is fixed for October 15.

The fees to be paid by all categories of candidates are as follows: presidential expression of interest- N1,000,000, nomination forms - N10,000,000; gubernatorial expression of interest - N500,000 and nomination forms - N5,000,000; senatorial N200,000, nomination fee- N 2,000,000; House of Representatives -N100,000, nomination form N1,000,000.
For the state house of assembly, expression of interest- N100,000, nomination forms N500,000.

The guidelines for the election of candidates are drawn in line with Article 12.72 (i) and 17.1 and 2 of PDP Constitution. They are as follows: announcement and notification to INEC of PDP special congresses/conventions (primaries) September 12, publication of notice of PDP congresses, special/national conventions and purchase and return of expression of interest and nomination forms by aspirants to elective offices- September 15.

Purchase, collection and return of expression of interest and nomination forms by state assembly, gubernatorial, National Assembly and presidential aspirants- September 16 and Sept 26.
The election of three ad hoc ward delegates nationwide – September 21 and election of national delegates nationwide holds September 23.


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