Wike’s Faction of PDP NEC Approves Guidelines and Dates for Presidential, Other Primary Polls

• FCT minister preaches reconciliation

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, yesterday, adopted the guidelines and dates for presidential, governorship, National Assembly and state assembly primary elections.

This was one of the highlights of the 108 NEC meeting that took place at the National secretariat of the PDP. It was also the first meeting under the new national chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Haruna Mohammed, the details of the dates and guidelines would be released by the National Working Committee, NWC of the party any moment from now.

But he said the dates would be within the dates stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The dates, according to INEC, were between April 23 and May 30.

In the communique of the meeting, the NEC announced its “Adoption of Timetable and Schedule of Activities for 2027 General Election.

“NEC adopted the timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of party primaries, including the Expression of Interest Forms, in line with the revised schedule for the 2027 General Election.

“NEC stressed the need for strict compliance with the approved timetable to ensure a transparent, credible, and hitch-free nomination process,” the communique declared.

Meanwhile, Wike has continued to preach peace, tasking the executive committee of the party to continue reconciliation members of the Tanimu Turaki as well as those that defected to other political parties.

According to Wike, “So, let us not say that they have defected, let them go, No. Chairman and your team, make sure you put up a strong committee that will still go ahead and talk to those who have defected.

“And whatever is due to them, they will still have it. Most of them may have defected because of uncertainty. If like, I want to run an election, and I’m not sure who will sign my documents to be presented to INEC.

“So most people will definitely find where they can get succour. But now, if you go and talk to them, I believe they will have a rethink and continue to support this party.

“On my own part, let me assure you, I’ll continue to support the party. I will continue to be loyal to the party. Since 1998 till now, I’ve been a member of the PDP, and I will not leave the party. That is the truth of the matter.

“Let us also assure those of you who have said, believing that matter is the court. I believe that our lawyers are doing great work, and I want to leave it for our lawyers.

“We are confident that our lawyers have been doing great work. God, who has led on this far, can never abandon us. So if God wanted to abandon us, we wouldn’t have started winning.”