Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said primary elections to nominate its candidates for positions on the 2023 General Elections will commence as scheduled on Sunday, May 22.
This is also as the party announced an adjustment for the primaries for the South East region, as it moved the exercise to Tuesday, May 24.
The party, in a statement by its National Organising Secretary, Mr Umar Bature, late Saturday, in Abuja informed all aspirants contesting the various elective positions in the 2023 general elections, delegates and party members that the primaries would go on as scheduled.
The party said that for the avoidance of doubt, the state House of Assembly primaries to elect candidates would hold on Sunday, May 22.
It added that the House of Representatives Primaries to elect candidates would also hold on Sunday, May 22, while the Senatorial Primary to elect candidates would hold on Monday, May 23.
“The National Working Committee has approved that in the event of unforeseen situations, the Senatorial Primary may extend to Tuesday, May 24.
The NWC further clarified those qualified and eligible to vote as delegates in the forthcoming Primaries and National Convention of the party.
The party said that by the virtue of Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act, 2022, ‘they are three ad hoc delegates per ward, elected at the ward congresses and one national delegate per local government, elected at the local government area congresses.’
Meanwhile, party chieftains in Anambra State will slug it out as the primary poll to elect the party’s candidates for the senatorial seats at the National Assembly is to hold on Tuesday, May 24.
The process was originally scheduled for Monday, May 23, 2022, but the PDP moved it for the entire South East to Tuesday due to the forced movement restrictions imposed by separatist groups in the region.
Already, 7 aspirants have been cleared for the Senatorial Primaries for the three zones in Anambra, while fifty-two aspirants have been cleared to contest in the House of Representatives primaries to fill eleven seats.
Leading the race in the senatorial races are Valentine Ozigbo, a celebrated global CEO and the gubernatorial candidate of the party in the November 2021 election who hails from Anambra South; Stella Oduah, the senator representing Anambra North who faces a tough battle with former PDP Governorship Candidate and former State Chairmen, Tony Nwoye; and Uche Ekwunife, the senator representing Anambra Central.
In the Anamnra South senatorial zone contest, while Ozigbo will square off against Chris Uba, a former PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) member, and relatively unknown, Mrs Peace Ezeabikwa.
In Anambra North, All Progressives Congress (APC) returnee Princess Stella Oduah and Tony Nwoye will be locking horns for the party’s senatorial ticket.
Oduah, a sitting senator and Nwoye, a former federal lawmaker and former gubernatorial candidate of both the PDP and APC, are heavyweights with the muscle to win the primary. Chief John Emeka, a former minister, was also cleared to contest in Anambra North.
In Anambra Central, the sitting senator, Uche Ekwunife, is running unopposed.