PDP Presidential Candidate To Emerge At November Convention

THE Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for
the 2015 presidential election would emerge November, three months to
the election.

Vanguard gathered yesterday from a member of the National Working
Committee, NWC that preparatory to the November convention, the party
would second week of September conduct a Special National Convention
to ratify the appointment of Alhaji Adamu Muazu who took over from
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as PDP National Chairman, January 20, 2014.

It will be recalled that Muazu's appointment was endorsed by the 64th
National Executive Committee, NEC meeting at Wadata Plaza, PDP
National Secretariat.

The Deputy National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, who presided
over the election of Mr. Mu'azu, quoted section 47 (6) of the party's
constitution which empowers NEC to elect a new official to fill
vacancy created by the resignation of an elected official. The motion
for the nomination of Muazu was moved by the Governor of Bauchi
State, Mallam Isa Yuguda, and was seconded by the Senate Leader,
Senator Victor Ndoma - Egba.

Consequently, the new PDP national chairman was elected and was
presented to party leadership, but he would require a Special National
convention to endorse his candidacy before he could sign very vital
documents of the party especially presenting candidates for election
to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

In preparation for the November Convention where the presidential
candidate of PDP would emerge, it then became imperative to organise a
convention first in September to give Muazu's emergence, the needed
Constitutional recognition.

According to PDP's constitution, Chapter 33(10), " A special National
Convention may be convened at any time at the instance of the National
Executive Committee or if requested for by two- third of all State
Congresses and the Special National Convention shall meet to discuss
only special matters which shall be specified in the notice summoning
the Convention."

It would be recalled the the Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC has fixed February 14, 2015 as date for the
presidential election.

A breakdown of the timetable of activities for the elections as
contained in a document signed by INEC's Secretary, Mrs. Augusta
Ogakwu, presidential primaries of the various parties should be held
between October 2 and December 11 while campaigns for the election
will commence November 16, even as the dates are in line with the
provisions of the Electoral Act.

According to INEC, primary elections to fill positions within
political parties ahead of 2015 general election will begin October 2
and end December 11, 2014, even as this includes resolution of
disputes arising from the primaries.

Campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections will
commence on November 16, 2014 while campaigns for governorship and
state houses of assembly will start on November 30, 2014.

According to INEC, campaigns for presidential and National Assembly
elections would end on February 12, 2015 while those of governorship
and state houses of assembly would stop on February 26, 2015 and
February 28, 2015 for the governorship and state houses of assembly
elections.

It will also be recalled that ahead of April, 2011 Presidential
election, the PDP conducted its primary election, January 13 where
President Goodluck won and became the party's presidential candidate.