Despite the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the sole presidential candidate of the party for the 2015 elections, the party yesterday said delegates would be allowed to vote for the PDP standard bearer at the December 6 presidential primary election.

This move is in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act on the nomination of presidential candidates by political parties.

According to Section 87(1) of the Electoral Act, “A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Act shall hold primaries for aspirants to all elective positions”.

It further states in Section 87(2)(3) and (4) that “the procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions shall be by direct or indirect primaries.

“A political party that adopts the direct primaries procedure shall ensure that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of the party.

“A political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice of its candidate shall adopt the procedure outlined below:

“In the case of nominations to the position of presidential candidate, a political party shall hold special conventions in each of the 36 states of the federation and FCT, where delegates shall vote for each of the aspirants at designated centres in each state capital on specified dates, a national convention shall be held for the ratification of the candidate with the highest number of votes.

“The aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting in the 36 states of the federation and FCT, shall be declared the winner of the presidential primaries of the political party and the aspirants name shall be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the candidate of the party after ratification by the national convention”.

Confirming this to our reporters, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh, said the party shall hold a presidential nomination primary election where delegates shall vote for the ratification of Jonathan as the sole presidential candidate of the party.

He said: “Our constitution is clear on this. There will be a convention and voting will take place. However since he has been endorsed by the NEC, we do not expect responsible and respectable loyal party members to challenge this wholesome acceptance and endorsement.”

In line with this, the PDP in its presidential primary guidelines listed the categories of members that would vote at the convention on December 6.

According to a document obtained by our reporter, those expected to vote at the presidential primary include the national chairman of PDP and all members of the National Working Committee (NWC), the president and the vice-president, all PDP members of the National Assembly, all PDP governors, as well as all governorship candidates that have emerged from the various congresses of November 29.

Other delegates to vote at the December 6 primary include all PDP members of the state Houses of Assembly, all members of the Board of Trustees (BoT), all working committee members of the six geopolitical zones, all the 36 state party chairmen and their secretaries, all state women and youth leaders, as well as all party chairmen of the local government areas, and one national delegate elected from the 774 local government areas in the country.

All elected local government council chairmen, former members of NWC, former senate presidents, former deputy senate presidents and former speakers and former deputy speakers of the House of Representatives that are still members of the party will also be expected to vote at the convention.

A top PDP source told THISDAY that the decision to comply with the Electoral Act arose from the need to avoid the situation that happened in 2013 when INEC said that the emergence of some members of the PDP NWC was not in compliance with the Electoral Act.