PDP denies Balewa’s son, Abiola’s widow presidential nomination forms

Two presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party were on Tuesday denied nomination/expression of interest forms at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
The aspirants were Dr. Abduljhalil Tafawa Balewa, son of former Prime Minister of he country, late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; and the wife of late Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, Prof. Akasoba Duke-Abiola.
Efforts by the aspirants, who stormed Wadata House headquarters of the PDP with a view to obtaining the party’s presidential nomination form were unsuccessful.
It was gathered that the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan as sole presidential candidate of the PDP at the 66th National Executive Committee meeting of the party may have been responsible for the denial.
While speaking with journalists in separate interviews, the presidential aspirants lamented that after they had paid into the bank, the party refused to issue them the forms.
It would be recalled that the PDP had in its guidelines fixed its presidential nomination and expression of interest forms as N20 million and N2 million respectively and exempted female aspirants from paying for nomination forms but limited their payment to expression of interest only.
Dr. Balewa, who displayed a N22 million Zenith Bank teller with account number: 1012436478m with which he paid for the forms, said: “I have paid for my forms.
“I was however told that they don’t have the forms ready.
“No matter, I am still here.
“I will send some of my people here on Thursday to come and pick the forms.
“People came from Bauchi and from different parts of the nation to support me.
“We have signatures of over 40 million Nigerians that want a change.
“I am in the PDP.
“I have always been in the PDP.
“I have no intention of leaving the PDP.”
The Zenith Bank teller for the sum of N22 million was dated October 28, 2014 and paid to PDP account number: 1012436478.
Dr. Belawa disclosed that he met the PDP National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, and the National Organising Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha, who told him to check again on Thursday for the forms.
Balewa wondered why the party, which produced so many gubernatorial forms, could not make available presidential forms for the few people vying to fly the party’s flag for the
February 14, 2015 presidential election.
Dr. Balewa said he was aware that different organs of the party have adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as sole presidential candidate of PDP, but added:‎ “These organs are little parts of the body.
“I am appealing to the body polity and I am going to run.
“Those organs do not always represent the masses that follow my part and I am addressing myself, the party and its entirety, I am sure I will do well.”
Similarly, Duke-Abiola said she paid N2 million to Diamond Bank for the Expression of Interest form and was issued a receipt.
She pointed out that when she demanded to issued with the presidential form since she had already come for it, the party leadership was not forthcoming.
Reacting to the claims, the PDP National‎ Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, promised to confirm the allegations with the National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu.
Metuh also promised that Mustapha will be invited to further address the issue.