The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially released its 2026 pre-election timetable and nomination guidelines, setting the stage for the party’s primary elections under the leadership of the interim National Executive Committee (NEC) headed by Kabiru Turaki. The announcement, made through a statement by Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee, outlines a clear schedule for aspirants seeking party tickets for various political offices across Nigeria. The process will begin on May 5, 2026, with the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms, and will conclude with a special convention on May 30, 2026, for the ratification of nominated candidates.
Aspirants will have nine days to purchase and submit their forms, with the sale period running from May 5 to May 13, 2026. Completed forms must be submitted by May 14, 2026, after which screening of candidates will take place from May 15 to May 18. Any aspirant dissatisfied with the screening outcome may file an appeal on May 21, with the list of cleared candidates to be published the following day, May 22. Ward primaries for all elective offices are scheduled for May 27, with appeals to be heard the next day, May 28. The NEC will then meet on May 29 to approve the final list of nominees before the special convention on May 30.
The party has also announced the costs associated with the nomination process, which vary significantly based on the office sought. For the House of Assembly, the expression of interest fee is ₦500,000, while the nomination form costs ₦1,500,000. For the House of Representatives, the fees are ₦2,000,000 and ₦5,000,000 respectively. Senate aspirants will pay ₦3,000,000 for expression of interest and ₦7,000,000 for nomination. Governorship candidates face higher fees: ₦5,000,000 for expression of interest and ₦35,000,000 for nomination. Presidential aspirants must pay ₦10,000,000 for expression of interest and ₦90,000,000 for the nomination form.
The PDP has introduced some concessions to promote inclusivity. Women are exempt from paying the nomination form fee and will only pay the expression of interest amount. Youths and persons living with disabilities are required to pay only 50% of the nomination form fee for their preferred offices. These measures aim to encourage broader participation across different demographics within the party. The structured timeline and fee schedule are designed to ensure transparency and fairness in the selection of candidates ahead of the 2026 general elections. This formalization of the nomination process signals the PDP’s intent to begin its electoral preparations in an organized and timely manner.
Leave a Comment