APC releases timetable for party primaries

National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun

The All Progressives Congress has released its timetable for the nomination of candidates for elective offices on the party platform.

According to the timetable seen by our correspondent in Abuja, on Sunday, the expression of interest forms for all offices will go on sale as from Monday, October 6, 2014.

Those interested in seeking the party’s nomination to stand in the presidential, governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly are expected to pick their forms between October 6 and 19, 2014.

Sale of nomination forms for presidential aspirants will commence on October 20 and end on November 6, 2014.

Screening of Presidential aspirants has been slated for between November 10 and 13 while November 14 and 15 are for appeals. The party’s national convention is slated for Tuesday, December 2, 2014.

The sale of nomination forms for those interested in the governorship race is slated for between October 20 and November 9, 2014.

Screening of aspirants will hold as from November 10 to 12, 2014 while appeals have been slated for between November 13 and 14, 2014.

Governorship primaries is to hold on Saturday, November 15 , 2014 while appeals emanating from the primaries will be entertained as from November 18 to 22, 2014.

Sale of nomination forms for senatorial aspirants will begin on October 20 and end on November 17, 2014, while their screening will hold between November 19 and 20, 2014.

Appeals emanating from the conduct of the screening exercise will be entertained on November 24 and 25.

Senatorial primaries will hold on November 29 and appeals will be entertained between December 1 and 2, 2014.

For those aspiring to fly the party’s flag for the House of Representatives, the sale of nomination forms will commence on October 20 and end on November 16, 2014, screening of aspirants will start on November 17 and end November 19, 2014. Appeals will begin from November 20 and end on November 21, 2014 while primaries will hold on November 24. Appeals emanating from the primaries will be entertained between November 25 and 26.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who confirmed the dates told The PUNCH that it was a demonstration of the party’s commitment to transparency.

He used the occasion to take a swipe on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party for endorsing President Good luck Jonathan.

Mohammed said, “While endorsement is a normal practice in a democracy, it becomes something else when you shut the door against others by denying them the right to contest.