Dankwambo, Lamido Pick PDP Presidential Forms

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Out of 12 presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), only the Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, and former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, have picked forms to pursue their presidential ambition.
The main opposition party yesterday began the sale of Expression of Interest and nomination forms for its members, as the party kick-started the official activities ahead of 2019 general elections.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party had announced in the national dailies the party’s guidelines for the conduct of the party primaries for the 2019 general election as approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party. The opposition party pegged the Expression of Interest forms for presidential aspirants at N2 million, while nomination form is pegged at N10 million.

Also, Expression of Interest form for the governorship election is pegged at N1 million, while nomination form is N5 million.
Similarly, Expression of Interest form for the Senate is pegged at N500, 000, while nomination form is pegged at N3 million.

Expression of Interest form for the House of Representatives is pegged at N500,000, while nomination form is N1.5 million.
The party’s nomination forms for national delegates is pegged at N20,000, while that of three ad-hoc delegates is pegged at N5,000.

Meanwhile, the PDP said that all aspirants for presidential, governorship, Senate, and House of Representatives aspirants are to purchase their forms at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja, while all aspirants for State House of Assembly elections are to purchase their forms at the national or state party secretariats.
The party however, exempted all female aspirants from payment for purchase of nomination forms for all offices except national ad-hoc delegate categories .

It also explained that in line with party’s constitution, the NWC, acting on behalf of the NEC, reviewed downward the cost of nomination forms for the House of Representatives from N2 million to N1 million, saying it is in keeping to it promise to enhance the inclusion of young persons.
The party stated that all forms are to be collected and submitted on or before 6th September, 2018.

Also, Concerned Abia Citizens yesterday picked nomination form and expression of interest form for the state Governor, Victor Ikpazu.
The leaders of the group, Amb. Bestman Aruba and Kingsely Wosu-Ezi, said that the group decided to purchase the form on behalf of the governor in order to ensure that every part of Abia state experience good governance as he continues in 2019.

The group stressed that PDP is now reformed and expressed optimism that the party would provide a level playing ground for all its members.
It noted that Ikpeazu has delivered on his electioneering campaign promises and as such would not hesitate to persuade him to seek re-election.
“Hopefully, he will not only clinch the ticket but also wins the election because the electorates in the State are well informed about the projects, policies and programmes of the governor,” it added.

Theresa May: Nigeria is Home to Highest Number of Poor People in the World
British Prime Minister, Theresa May, has said Nigeria is home to the highest number of “very poor people” in the world.
Speaking in Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday, May said Africa is home to a majority of the world’s fragile states, and a quarter of the world’s displaced people.
She added that Africa has the highest number of poor people in the world, stating that 87 million Nigerians were living below the poverty line of $1 and 90 cents per day.

The prime minister also said she supports a permanent African presence on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
“Much of Nigeria is thriving, with many individuals enjoying the fruits of a resurgent economy, yet 87 million Nigerians live below $1 and 90 cents a day, making it home to more very poor people than any other nation in the world,” the UK prime minister said.
In June, the Brookings Institution named Nigeria the poverty capital of the world, overtaking India, a country with a total population of over 1.3 billion people.

At the time, the Nigerian government said Nigerians should dismiss the report, considering the fact that it was compiled when the country was in the throes of its worst economic recession in 29 years.
May said achieving inclusive growth is a challenge across the world, adding that Africa needs to create 50,000 new jobs per day to keep employment rate at its current level till 2035.

The prime minister said she wants the UK to become the biggest G-7 investor in Africa by 2022, building around shared prosperity and shared security.
“I am unashamed about the need to ensure that our aid programme works for the UK,” May said, adding that a healthy African economy is good news for the UK.

“Today I am committing that our development spending will not only combat extreme poverty, but at the same time tackle global challenges and support our own national interest.”
“It is in the world’s interest to see that those jobs are created, to tackle the causes and symptoms of extremism and instability, to deal with migration flows and to encourage clean growth,” she added.

The 61-year-old said the UK is planning to sign a deal with Kenya to ensure the repatriation of stolen Kenyan funds stuck in the UK.

The UK has one of the biggest overseas aid programmes in the world, expending $18 billion in 2017 alone.

She stated that the security of Africa is linked to the security of the United Kingdom.

The prime minister, who is renewing this call said: “In 2018, Africa and British security are inextricably linked and mutually dependent. That is one of the reasons why I continue to support cause for a permanent African presence on the UN security council.”

Permanent members of the UN security council are: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The UNSC also has 10 non-permanent members, who rotate the membership every two years.

With two countries from Europe, one from Asia, one from the Americas, and one from EuroAsia, there have been calls to have an African country sit permanently on the security council — with no success.

May will be visit Nigeria today.