*Extends sale of nomination forms by 7 days
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that it has uncovered a clandestine plot by the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to alter the newly passed Electoral Act 2022 to introduce clauses that will compromise the 2023 general elections.
The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba alleged that the APC, having realized that it is running out of time and cannot meet up with the already released electoral timetable is seeking to frustrate and derail the on-going electoral process.
“The PDP has it on good authority that the Buhari Presidency has perfected plots to use the APC leadership in the National Assembly to orchestrate an amendment to the Electoral Act to create opening for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to alter its already released 2023 Election Timetable and Schedule of Activities to accommodate the APC.
“Our Party has information about how the APC has been mounting pressure on INEC to push forward the already scheduled dates for the 2023 general elections” the party said.
The main opposition party said that it is opposed to the plot by the APC to shift the goal post in the middle of the game and cautioned INEC to resist such design which is said is against democracy.
“The election timetable has already been released, political parties have commenced processes, Nigerians have since set their minds on the election dates to vote out the APC and there is no going back on that resolve” the party said.
The PDP cautioned the Buhari Presidency and the APC leadership in the National Assembly to note that any attempt to alter the timetable is an invitation to serious political crisis in the country as Nigerians will firmly resist it.
While directing all PDP members in the National Assembly to be vigilant and firmly resist this plot, the Party called on all lovers of democracy; the Civil Society, the media, Organized Labour and the International Community to stand against the attempt to derail the democratic process saying that it will not hesitate to call out its members, teeming supporters and Nigerians at large should the APC continue in this nefarious scheme.
Meanwhile, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the great Party has approved the extension of sales of Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms for all elective offices in the 2023 general elections from the initial date of Friday, April 1, 2022 to Friday, April 8, 2022.
The party also moved the last date for the return of already completed forms as well as the Screening Exercise for both the State House of Assembly and National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) as follows:
Last Date For Submission of Already Completed Forms: State House of Assembly – Sunday, April 10, 2022 by 6pm and National Assembly – Sunday, April 10, 2022 by 6pm.
The Screening of Aspirants: State of House of Assembly – Tuesday April 12, 2022 and National Assembly – Thursday April 14, 2022.
The party said that all other dates remain as already published.
