Abdul Tafawa Balewa has repeated his claim that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deliberately refused to sell the presidential nomination form to him and others so that no one competes against President Goodluck Jonathan.
The claim is also made by Zainab Abiola, widow of Moshood Abiola, the man whose presidential election in 1993 was annulled by former military President, Ibrahim Babangida.
She has threatened to go to court.
“I paid but I was given only a receipt without a form. I paid N22 million into the Zenith Bank account of the PDP.
“The National Organising Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha, said there is only one form printed by the party and that it is meant for Mr. President, whom every member of the party has endorsed as a sole candidate,” Balewa recounted.
Abiola said she too was not given the form, despite the fact that “I paid only N2 million. I paid that amount because the party policy has given women the grounds not to pay for obtaining nomination forms.”
She reiterated that the PDP policy stipulates that every interested member should come forward for declaration of interest and obtain the nomination form, which she did, only to meet a stumbling block.
“I am not asking for the money to be given back; as a law abiding Nigeria, I have the right to go to court and seek redress.
“All law abiding candidates have the right to obtain the nomination form and I must tell you that things should be done in a manner that every Nigerian will be treated equally.”
Jonathan obtained his nomination form on Thursday, October 30, after which the PDP announced the extension of the sale of nomination forms for all posts nationwide to Thursday, November 6.
