The Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied alleged refusal to sell nomination forms to a presidential aspirant.
The PDP faction, in a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, debunked the allegation, stressing that no aspirant has hindered from purchasing the nomination form.
In said bid to enable more aspirants to purchase the forms, Ememobong said the party extended the deadline for purchase and submission of the forms.
‘We are aware of an allegation of the party’s refusal the sale of form to an aspirant to the office of the President.
“We state clearly that the Interim National Working Committee is not aware of any hindrance by the party through its officials to prevent anybody from purchasing the forms.
“In fact, the party had in response to the appeal by party members, recently amended the timetable to grant extension of time for more people to purchase and complete their forms.
“By the amended timetable, the last date for purchase and return of completed forms is Friday 22nd May 2026, and the special screening for those yet to be screened is on Saturday23rd May 2026.” The statement partly read.
The PDP maintained that irrespective of the party’s decision to zone its presidential ticket to the south, the right of Nigerians to aspire for position cannot be truncated.
It urged the public to dismiss the allegation while reiterating that forms are still largely available.
“It is worth mentioning that though the National Executive Committee of our party had long ago zoned the Presidential ticket to aspirants from the southern part of Nigeria, the right to aspire is a constitutional provision which cannot be circumscribed by directional agreements like zoning.
“To this end, we urge the public to discountenance any story alleging that the party is preventing people from purchasing forms.
“We reiterate that our forms are still available within the period provided for in the amended timetable and all Nigerians seeking to genuinely contest on our platform are free to obtain, fill and return their forms.” The statement read further.
Meanwhile, the Turaki-led faction had largely backed the candidacy of former President Goodluck Jonathan who was on Tuesday cleared to contest in the party’s primaries.
NPO Reported that the screening committee granted Jonathan a waiver to contest, noting that the former president’s extensive experience left no room for him to be screened again.