PDP Announces Dates For Presidential, Gubernatorial Primaries

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party has fixed October 29 and December
6 for its gubernatorial and presidential Primaries respectively, ahead
of the 2015 general elections.

This was announced by Olisa Metuh, the party's National Publicity
Secretary, in Abuja.

Mr. Metuh said party's National Assembly primaries would hold on
November 22, adding that the dates were proposed by the party's
National Working Committee, NWC.

The dates are subject to the approval of the party`s National
Executive Committee, NEC, scheduled to meet on Thursday.

"We expect all public servants, government appointees and elected
party officials who are interested in contesting any position to
resign their appointments seven days before the commencement of the
ward congress election," he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria quoted party officials as saying the sales
of nomination and expression of interest forms for various elective
offices would be between October 27 and 28.
This is to enable public office holders interested in elective offices
to resign their appointments before Oct. 20, NAN. Reported.

President Goodluck Jonathan had met behind closed doors with caucus
members of the party on Tuesday.

The meeting, which held at the State House Abuja, was attended by Vice
President, Namadi Sambo, Senate President, David Mark, Senate Leader,
Victor Ndoma-Egba and Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi.

Governors Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Jonah
Jang (Plateau), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and Theodore Orji (Abia),
PDP Chairman, Adamu Muazu, PDP Deputy National Chairman, Uche
Secondus, former PDP Chairman, Ahmadu Ali, PDP Board of Trustee (BoT)
Secretary, Walid Jibril, Special Adviser to the President on Political
Affairs, Rufai Alkali, PDP National Women Leader, Kema Chikwe,
Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and Minister of Justice
and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, were also at
the meeting which started at 8.37pm.

The BoT meeting of the party is expected to hold at the Presidential
Villa on Wednesday night, while the National Executive Committee, NEC,
meeting of the party is slated for Thursday at the National
Headquarters of the PDP in Abuja.