Dare Babalola
The Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has denied allegations that the party is preventing any aspirant from purchasing nomination forms for the presidential election.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, made the clarification in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to the statement, the interim leadership was not aware of any action by party officials aimed at stopping interested aspirants from obtaining the forms.
The party explained that it recently reviewed and amended its timetable following appeals from members seeking additional time to participate in the process.
Under the revised schedule, the deadline for the purchase and submission of completed nomination forms is Friday, May 22, 2026, while a special screening exercise for aspirants yet to be screened has been fixed for Saturday, May 23, 2026.
The PDP interim leadership also noted that although the party’s National Executive Committee had previously zoned the presidential ticket to the southern region, the constitutional right of Nigerians to contest for elective office could not be restricted by zoning arrangements.
“It is worth mentioning that though the National Executive Committee of our party had long ago zoned the presidential ticket to aspirants from the southern part of Nigeria, the right to aspire is a constitutional provision which cannot be circumscribed by directional agreements like zoning,” the statement read.
The party urged members of the public to disregard reports alleging that it was frustrating the purchase of forms by aspirants.
It reiterated that the nomination forms remain available within the period stated in the amended timetable and that all Nigerians interested in contesting on the party’s platform are free to obtain, complete and submit their forms.
