The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, who confirmed the meeting of the NWC, said that all its members had already arrived in Abuja.
The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party will on Saturday (today) decide on when to commence the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms to its members who are interested in contesting elective offices in 2019, SATURDAY PUNCH has learnt.
The decision will be taken after a crucial meeting of the members of the party’s National Working Committee, which will be presided over by its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.
Secondus and other members of the NWC were said to have arrived Abuja on Friday evening.
It will be recalled that the party had recently released its schedule of activities for the 2019 general elections to its National Executive Committee members.
However, our correspondent gathered that the party decided to tarry a little and wait for the release of the guidelines by the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, before the commencement of sales of nomination forms to its aspirants.
The schedule, which was exclusively obtained by our correspondent, showed that the PDP ought to have commenced the sale of nomination forms to aspiring members since August 2.
The opposition party also ought to have nominated membership to its committees, including appeal panel, on August 20 and followed it up with its publication on August 22.
The schedule also showed that the party ought to have screened its aspirants to the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship and presidential candidates on August 30.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, who confirmed the meeting of the NWC, said that all its members had already arrived in Abuja.
He said, “We have not decided on when we are going to start the selling of nomination and expression of interest forms.
“But the NWC is going to have an important meeting in Abuja on Saturday (today), where we will take a decision on that.
“When we meet and take the decision, we will communicate that to our supporters, including you (our correspondent). So, let us wait for the outcome of the NWC meeting on Saturday.”
A source close to the leadership of the party said that the NWC would study the leaked memo from the APC to INEC on when the ruling party would start its activities before it (the PDP) would also commence its own.
The source said, “We don’t have to deceive ourselves. The fight is between the PDP and the APC. 2019 is like a match between two strong teams. The two coaches will have to spy on each other in order to outplay each other. That’s what we are doing now.”
PUNCH
