2019: APC fixes presidential primary for September 19, governorship September 24

macfranc007 August 25, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 David Oladele

- The All Progressives Congress and the African Democratic Congress have released dates for presidential and governorship primaries

- The APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, also listed the proposed dates for the federal and state assemblies

- The chairman of the ADC, Chief Okey Nwosu, said the primaries for legislative and governorship positions will take place on Friday, September 21

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has scheduled its presidential primary for September 19, while that for governorship positions would be on September 24.

The Punch reports that the party made this known in a letter written to the Independent National Electoral Commission by its national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

NAIJ.com gathered that the APC queried the INEC for allegedly leaking the letter. The party argued that the dates contained in the document were not sacrosanct because they were subject to change.

It was learnt that the party’s national chairman requested that the election management body should prepare to send its officials to monitor the series of events listed in the document. Oshiomhole also listed the proposed dates for the federal and state assemblies.

The letter, dated August 17, read in part, “Please be advised that our party has scheduled to hold its congresses and primary elections for the nomination of candidates in respect of the 2019 election.

“This serves as a formal notification pursuant to the provisions of section 85 of the electoral act 2010 as amended. Kindly arrange your officials to monitor the exercise accordingly. While hoping to receive your cooperation; please accept the assurances of my highest esteem.”

According to the letter, the primaries are scheduled to hold as follows: Saturday, September 8, nationwide congresses to elect delegates to the national convention (presidential); Saturday, September 19, national convention to elect the party’s presidential candidate.

While confirming the authenticity of the document and denouncing INEC for allegedly leaking it, the APC acting national publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena, said Oshiomhole authored the leaked letter.

Nabena, however, explained that the dates contained in the document were subject to change.

In a statement he sent to newsmen, Nabena said, “Our attention has been drawn to a leaked letter the national chairman of the APC Adams Oshiomhole wrote to the chairman, Independent National Electoral Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, informing the commission of the schedule of the congresses and primaries to elect party candidates for the 2019 general elections.

“These leaks of our sensitive and confidential correspondence to INEC are becoming commonplace and totally unacceptable. We strongly request that INEC looks into its internal handling of official correspondence and put a stop to these leaks.

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“While the leaked formal notification to INEC has been done by the APC pursuant to the provisions of Section 85 of the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), we advise the general public particularly the media to wait for an official announcement from the Party as the leaked dates are subject to changes, if necessary.”

Meanwhile, the INEC could not be reached for comments as at the time of filing this report.

Also, the African Democratic Congress (ADP) fixed its presidential primary for September 29, while the FCT primary was fixed for September 11.

The chairman of the ADC, Chief Okey Nwosu, said: “Our first primary will be that of elective positions in the FCT which will take place on September 11. We will show to Nigerians and other political parties how a proper primary is conducted.

“The primaries for legislative and governorship positions will take place from September 21 while the presidential primary will hold on September 29, 2018.”

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that President Buhari in Abuja declared his intention to seek re-election in 2019.

Malam Garba Shehu, the president’s senior special assistant on media and Publicity confirmed this development in a statement in Abuja.

He said that the president made the declaration at a closed-door meeting of the National Executive Committee of the APC in Abuja.

Should President Buhari seek reelection in 2019? (Nigerian Street Interview) - on NAIJ.com TV: