BY SUNDAY SAMUEL—The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has released its forms for aspirants seeking presidential and governorship tickets in preparation for the 2027 general polls.
This update was outlined in a schedule endorsed by the party’s National Organising Secretary from one faction, Umar Bature.
The notice states that the presidential nomination form is priced at ₦51 million, while the governorship form costs ₦21 million. It also indicates that the party will forward its membership register to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on April 21, 2026, and inform the commission of its primaries a day later.
According to the outlined plan, the expression-of-interest form for every position is pegged at ₦1 million, though the nomination charges differ by office. Candidates aiming for State Houses of Assembly are to pay ₦2 million; House of Representatives aspirants ₦3 million; Senate hopefuls ₦5 million; governorship contenders ₦20 million; and those seeking the presidency ₦50 million.
The sale of these forms is set to commence on April 27 and end on May 4, while completed documents must be submitted by May 9. Screening for State Assembly, National Assembly, and governorship aspirants is slated for May 11, with presidential screening following on May 12.
The presidential primary election is scheduled for May 18, while governorship primaries will take place on May 27. House of Representatives primaries are fixed for May 21, Senate contests for May 23, and State Assembly primaries will run from May 21 to May 24. All appeals are expected to be resolved by May 30, 2026.
Bature noted that female aspirants are only required to pay the expression-of-interest fee for the offices they seek. The primaries will be supervised by INEC, which has officially acknowledged the leadership aligned with Nyesom Wike.
The party continues to face internal disagreements, with a faction led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, backed by Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, seeking a court ruling to validate the 2025 Ibadan convention.
Earlier reports indicated that the Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in an appeal brought by the Turaki-led group, contesting the nullification of the convention.
On Wednesday, a five-member panel headed by Lawal Garba said the date for the ruling would be communicated after counsel for all sides adopted their final written submissions.
The faction is asking the apex court to overturn the March 9 decision of the Court of Appeal, which upheld earlier rulings voiding the party’s convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025. At the Supreme Court, the group maintained that the matter concerns internal party issues and should not be subject to judicial review, insisting that proper procedures were followed in organising the gathering.
