….As party extends date for sale and submission of forms
By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Chairman of the main opposition party, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Sen. Iyorchia Ayu has boasted that the party will win the presidency and most of the seats in the states and National Assembly if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) provides a free and fair platform including the electronic transmission of election results.
Ayu made the declaration on Thursday in Abuja when a delegation from United Nations Needs Assessment Mission led by Mr. Serge Gakwandi Kubwimana paid him a courtesy call at the party’s headquarters.
In his remarks the party chairman told the delegation that the party and INEC will be willing to get technical support from the team especially in the area of electronic transmission of results which will ensure that the upcoming election is credible, free and fair.
He said, “Since 2015, we lost power we have been busy rebuilding the party as an opposition party. Some observer teams like yours should not just assess but encourage democratic process. We think your support is important. We are happy to hear that you are interested in various forms of support not just to the country but also to civil society organizations in such a way that they will be strengthened. We think this will go along with some of the technical support particularly that will facilitate electronic transmission of results and other areas that we will check election malpractices are very important to us.
“As a political party, we’re very confident that if we have a free and fair elections, the PDP will sweep all as we have demonstrated that in recent times. So we’re very confident in a free and fair election. We will return to the winning ways and will be able to win several states and then next year, when we have the presidential elections, we will definitely win the presidential elections. The only obstacle on the way we believe is when elections are not conducted freely and fairly. But as long as they are conducted free and fairly, this party is capable, is up and going, is rebuilding, is strong, is spread all over the country and Nigerians believe in us. Therefore, your comment to support particularly agencies like the Independent National Electoral Commission, and several other supportive organizations will be very, very useful”.
The party boss asked the delegation to also extend such supports to political parties and civil societies.
“I think as an opposition party, we don’t always mind some of the largesse if it comes our way, especially if we’ll have technical support. So I think you should support political parties when you do your report on need assessment. We also have very serious needs, which could be communicated to you if you are considering political parties, because it definitely will make more sense if you also include certain extension to some of the key political parties” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the delegation said that the team is in the country to provide electoral support to all the stakeholders and assist countries to firm their electoral process.
Kubwimana said, “This is an electoral Needs Assessment mission that is in the country in response to a request for electoral support. So we are here to assess the needs of not just the country but also of the key stakeholders that play a role in elections and also to assess the overall context, possible challenges that may affect the electoral process and how best the UN could assist the Government and the various stakeholders in the lead up to those elections”.
Meanwhile, PDP has extended the timetable for its sales and submission of nomination forms.
A statement from the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba on Thursday stated that the last date for the purchase of forms will be next Thursday while the deadline for submission of forms will be Easter Sunday.
Under the adjusted timetable, the following dates have been fixed for screening of aspirants for various positions:
State House of Assembly: April 19, 2022; National Assembly: April 20, 2022; Governorship: April 21, 2022; Presidential: April 25, 2022.
On the same note, Screening Appeals are scheduled as follows: State House of Assembly April 21, 2022; National Assembly April 22, 2022; Governorship April 26, 2022 and Presidential: April 27, 2022.
The party further notified that all duly completed State Assembly Forms are to be submitted at the various States Secretariat of the Party.
