PDP PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE 2018

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The report reviews the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) on the nomination of candidates by political parties. This is detailed in section 87 of the Electoral Act (“Act”). This review is matched with the provision of the Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections (“Guidelines”) of the Peoples Democratic Party (“PDP” or “Party”).

There seems to be a difference in the procedure adopted by PDP in its Guidelines and the stipulations of section 87 of the Electoral Act. While the Guidelines require a Special National Convention to elect the candidate, the Electoral Act demands that voting for the aspirants be done at special conventions in each of the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) while the Special National Convention is for the purpose of ratification of the candidate by the Party. However, this is more of a procedural difference considering that the substance, which is about allowing all delegates to vote has been respected.
The report examines the cost of expression of interest and nomination form fixed at N12million and notes that these fees are extra constitutional demands made by the party on aspirants, which stricto sensu may be unconstitutional, considering the fact that they are very high. It is the policy of the law that no one adds or subtracts from the clear provisions of the Constitution, especially where such additions and subtractions place undue hurdles to the enjoyment of rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.

There was high level drama on the choice of venue for the presidential primaries. It was fixed to be held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. But when some stakeholders sought to change the venue to another town, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike reacted angrily and threatened the party. The impression was created that the venue would be a contributory factor in determining who emerged as the presidential candidate of the party. He was later to apologise to the party and the convention was eventually held in Port Harcourt.

A total of twelve aspirants contested the primary election at the convention. All the aspirants had rich resource backgrounds. The aspirants and their ages are as follows. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (71), former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi (62); Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal (52); the Pro-Chancellor, Baze University and former Member of the House of Representatives Dr. Datti Baba – Ahmed (49); and former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa (63). Others were former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido (70); Senate President and former governor of Kwara State Bukola Saraki (55); former Senate President, David Mark (70); former Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang (74); Former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki (61); Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo (56) and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former Governor of Kano State (61). There were a total of 3,619 delegates scheduled to vote at the primaries and these delegates were very well known to all the aspirants before the primaries.

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PDP PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE 2018