The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stated that despite its unanimous endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2015 presidential poll on the ticket of the party, the president is yet to formally declare his intention to contest the election.
National Publicity of the Party, Olisa Metuh said this yesterday, he said that the decision over Jonathan’s running mate lies with him and that the President is yet to accept the party’s offer.
Also, the party has ruled out automatic tickets for first-term governors elected on the platform of the party, stating that it is only the National Executive Committee (NEC) and its National Caucus that have the powers to grant sole candidacy as was the case with Jonathan.
“Why don’t we wait for the president to declare first before such issues are highlighted? If the president accepts his nomination to run, then we will be able to move into the next level,” he said while urging Nigerians to discard rumours that Jonathan would not run with Sambo.
Metuh also described Sambo as one of the most loyal and dedicated members of the party.
On whether the sole candidacy offered Jonathan would be extended to governors and members of the National Assembly, he explained: “The endorsement by the NEC and other organs was for President Jonathan, it does not extend to other aspirants, as there would be congresses. This is why the party is releasing guidelines for the various primary elections.”
He said: “As much as the party through the NEC, Board of Trustees (BoT) and other organs of the party has adopted and endorsed the president as its sole presidential candidate, he is yet to officially accept his nomination.”
He explained that the import of the sole candidature of the President is that no other party member will be allowed to pick the nomination form for the Presidency: “That was the essence of the NEC decision. All members of the party are therefore directed to abide by the decision of NEC, which is the highest decision-making body of the party, apart from the national convention.”
Metuh further clarified that the endorsement of the president was not extended to the governors of the party, who would be eligible for second terms in office.
He said the decision of the NEC and other organs of the party was clear on the endorsement of the sole candidacy of the president.
On the guidelines for the party’s primaries, Jonathan will be expected to pay N20 million as the cost of the form and N2 million for expression of interest, while governorship aspirants of the party will pay N10 million and N1 million for the expression of interest forms.
Aspirants for the Senate are to pay N4 million, while those desirous of contesting for the House of Representatives will pay N2 million. All aspirants for the National Assembly will pay N500,000 for expression of interest forms.
Those aspiring to contest for state Houses of Assembly are expected to pay N1 million for their nomination forms and N200, 000 each for the expression of interest forms.
However, no fee was imposed on all female aspirants at all levels.
The age limit for the Senate was pegged at 35 years and 30 years for the House of Representatives.
