The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will today commence the sale of the Expression of Interest (EoI) and nomination forms for the November governorship election in Kogi State. Also, the party has ruled out automatic ticket for the sitting governor of the state, Idris Wada, who is also seeking re-election.
There has been speculation that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has sold the ticket to Wada, and had therefore, ruled out primary election in Kogi State. But the PDP National Organising Secretary (NOS), Abubakar Mustapha, told journalists last week that the party will follow the provision of its constitution that allows competitive primary to select its candidates for elections. “PDP is ready to retain Kogi State. The NWC assured the people of free and fair primary, and we call on party members in Kogi State to properly conduct their affairs,” Mustapha said.
The party’s sale of the forms will last for eight days, August 17 to 24, while screening of aspirants will hold on August 27. According to Mustapha the gubernatorial primary to choose the PDP candidate for the November 21 election will take place on September 10.
“There will be no imposition of candidate. We will put credible people in place to conduct the primary,” the NOS assured. The EoI form goes for N1 million while the gubernatorial form is put at N10 million. Female aspirants are exempted from the payment of nomination forms as a way of encouraging women to vie for elective positions.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed between August 25 and September 15 for political parties wishing to field candidates for governorship election in Kogi State to conclude their primaries.
