2015: PDP ASPIRANTS IN RUSH TO BEAT DEADLINE FOR PURCHASE OF NOMINATION FORMS

As national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday ruled out the extension of deadline for the purchase of expression of interest and nomination forms, many aspirants yesterday stormed the party’s national secretariat to obtain their forms to contest various elective positions in the 2015 general elections.
Deputy governor of Sokoto State, Barrister Muktar Shagari, who picked his expression of interest and nomination forms at the national secretariat of the party yesterday, explained that there is an existing agreement which former President Olusegun Obasanjo was part of, that he would emerge governor of Sokoto State in 2015.

“The PDP has already agreed that at the end of Wamakko’s tenure, the governorship ticket will come to me. Wamakko is my governor, my friend even though we now belong to different political parties.
“My ticket was given to him but I did not do anything to undermine the government because the government is for the people of Sokoto State. Wamakko now controls the APC structures in the state not that of the PDP,” he said.
Immediate past minister of state for Trade and Investment, who has resigned to contest the Benue State governorship seat after picking his forms yesterday, said he will engage organised private sector for good governance in the state.
He said he will run his administration with the fear of God adding that: “this translates to ensuring equity selflessness, fairness, reconciliation, peace and unity in the state,” if elected.
Another aspirant, Hinga Biem, who also picked his forms to run for Benue State governorship seat said the 32 years of his public service has qualified him to be governor of the state.
He said his administration would open up new window of opportunities in agriculture and provide security of lives and property, adding that he is in the race to address what he called “deprivation” of his bloc in the Tiv extraction even though the Idomas are also agitating for power shift to zone C.
Oseleye Dennis Ojuka, eyeing the governorship seat of Rivers State, assured that the PDP would reclaim the state in 2015, adding that his friends in the APC have confided in him that they are just passing time in the APC.
Maj Lancelot Anyanya, another Rivers State governorship aspirant said Rivers is fundamentally a PDP state, stressing that nobody can hijack the party’s structure in the state at the detriment of others.
Hon Catherine Ilolo also picked the expression of interest and nomination forms for Dr Mrs Ngozi Olejeme to run for Delta State governorship. Also, Chief Ogbenoro Omene picked his forms for Delta governorship, Babalola Owolabi for Oyo governorship and Nimi Walson-Jack for Rivers governorship among others.
Deadline for purchase of forms for all elective positions is October 30, 2014. The sale of forms began on October 10.
Meanwhile, a lawmaker, Ibrahim Shehu Gusau and Senator Paulinus Nwagwu, returned their forms to contest Zamfara and Ebonyi states governorship elections.