2023: PDP pegs presidential, governorship forms at N40m, N21m
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has released its timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections including the prices of nomination forms for all elective positions.
Speaking to journalists at the end of its 95th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, on Wednesday in Abuja, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the party approved the establishment of a 37-member Zoning Committee for zoning of elective positions for the 2023 general elections.
He noted that the decision was taken after extensive considerations on issues of urgent national importance as well as preparations for the 2023 general elections.
He disclosed that NEC also pegged the presidential and governorship Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms at N40 million and N21 million, respectively.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, PDP disclosed that “In preparations for the 2023 General Elections, NEC approved the PDP Electoral Guidelines for the conduct of primary elections.
“NEC approved the timetable and schedule of activities of the PDP for the 2023 general elections.
“The following amounts for the forms were approved by NEC:
“State House of Assembly -Expression of Interest at N100,000 and Nomination Form at N500,000.
“House of Representatives- Expression of Interest -N500,000; Nomination Form-N2,000,000.
“For the Senate: Expression of Interest -N500,000, Nomination Form N3,000,000.
“Governorship – Expression of interest – N1,000,000, while Nomination Form is N20,000,000.
“President- Expression of Interest form-N5,000,000 and nomination form – N35,000,000,” he said.
He disclosed that NEC also approved a 50 per cent reduction in nomination fees for youths of age 25 years to 30 years for various elective positions.
“NEC also approved the commencement of sale of expression of interest and nomination forms from Thursday, March 17, 2022,” he added.
Mr Ologunagba also noted that NEC constituted a Three-Man Reconciliation Committee including Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Okowa, and Bala Mohammed to resolve issues in the Edo State Chapter of the Party.
Akwa Ibom teachers embark on indefinite strike
The Nigeria Union of Teachers, Akwa Ibom State Chapter have commenced an indefinite strike over the state government’s alleged refusal to meet their demands.
This was contained in a press statement signed by the Senior State Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Akwa Ibom State, Victor Amirize on Tuesday.
The strike follows the failure of the teachers to reach an understanding with the state government on its demands including the reopening of the teachers’ Amnesty program.
The statement said, “The NUT hereby orders all primary and secondary schools in public school to proceed on an indefinite strike action from midnight of Tuesday 15th 2022.”
Listing its demands, the NUT said, “Akwa Ibom State Government teachers’ amnesty programme should be reopened to cover the teachers that were cut off during the last amnesty programme.
“Refund of 7% contributory pension to primary school teachers. Payment of gratuity/harmonisation of pension to retired teachers.”
The teachers also demanded the payment of 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 leave grants to primary school teachers.
Other demands include the payment of promotion arrears from 2011 to 2016; the release of the 2017 and 2018 promotion exercise conducted by SUBEB as well as immediate commencement of the 2019, 2020, 2021 promotion exercise.
“Appointment of teachers as Permanent Secretaries as well as promotion results of teachers who attended the exercise as in 2020 to be released without recourse to a pass in the Administrative Professional Officers Compulsory Examination because this was not demanded at the point of the interview,” the statement added.
The union appealed to both parents and pupils for understanding as “the government’s insensitivity to the teachers’ plight has pushed us to this level.”
Six die in ghastly car crash in Delta
Six persons have been killed in a ghastly car accident in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.
It was gathered that the accident which claimed six lives occurred when a Mercedes Benz car collided with a truck near Akala park along Ogwashi Uku–Kwale expressway on Tuesday.
The victims including three men and three women were said to be going to the market when the accident occurred.
Confirming the incident, Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, Ibrahim Abubakar said the vehicles were totally destroyed, adding that “it was difficult identifying the victims as a result of the impact of the collision.”
According to him, “Two of the victims were trapped under the truck and it took our men a hectic time to push out the truck before we could bring them out dead.”
Abubakar advised motorists against speeding and driving with bad eyesight.
It was also learnt that the remains of the victims have been deposited at the General Hospital in Ogwashi-Uku area of the state.
2023: Oppose zoning Presidency to south- Atiku begs PDP leaders
Former Vice President of Nigeria under the Obasanjo-led administration, Atiku Abubakar has asked the leaders of the People Democratic Party (PDP) to ignore the calls to zone its presidential ticket to the South ahead of the 2023 elections.
Atiku made the call while addressing PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) members in Abuja during a consultative meeting on Monday, where he urged them to support his Presidential ambition.
He said, “For sure in the party, we invented and formulated this zoning policy simply because we wanted every part of this country to have a sense of belonging and I have paid my dues on the issue of zoning.
“So, therefore, you cannot come and try to imply that the PDP has not been following the zoning policy. The many years of PDP government eight years and six years all of them were from the south.”
The aspirant pleaded with the BoT for another opportunity to represent the PDP in the coming polls, promising to build bridges across the regions.
“Please join me in building bridges across this country so that every part of this country will have a sense of belonging.”
He also expressed concerns over concerns over the continuity of the party should incase it loses at the 2023 presidential election.
According to him, “I am worried and you should be worried too that if we do not win, it means we will be in opposition again for the next eight years.
“By the next eight years, I don’t know how many of us will be left in politics and it may even ultimately lead to the death of the party because people gravitate, particularly in developing countries, towards governments.
“So this is a very crucial and historical moment in history, for our survival.”
