The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has shifted the party`s presidential primaries from 6 December to 10 December, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, National Organising Secretary of the party, announced on Saturday in Abuja.

“In exercise of its powers under Section 29 (2) (a) and (b) of the 2012 constitution of our party as amended, the NWC has approved the review of time-table for the conduct of congresses and primaries,’’ Mustapha announced in a statement.

According to the statement, return of presidential nomination and expression of interest forms would close on 15 November, while screening and appeals would be on November 26 and the National Convention, December 10.

Return of governorship forms by aspirants, according to the new time-table, will now end on 14 November while screening and appeals would be between 22 and 25 November.

The statement said that governorship primaries would now be held on 8 December.

According to Mustapha, return of forms for House of Assembly will end on 14 November, while primaries and appeal will hold between 29 and 30 November.

Primaries for senatorial aspirants would hold on 7 December and the appeals 8 December.

The statement stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been notified of the review.

In another development, the National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that only its national leaders are permitted to release results of its ward congresses and other primary elections across the country.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh

Mr Olisa Metuh, the party`s National Publicity Secretary, gave the clarification in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

According to him, some individuals have purportedly released the result of the election of three man ad hoc delegates for the party`s primary elections in Ebonyi, held on Nov. 1.

He frowned at the development, adding that the party`s leadership would thoroughly investigate the illegality and take prompt action against persons who participated in it.

“Only the National Working Committee (NWC), through the Office of the National Organising Secretary, can release the result of the ward congresses for the election of three man ad hoc delegate or any primary election conducted by the party.

“Accordingly, in line with the PDP constitution and our earlier directives in other states, we expect the Ebonyi State Deputy Chairman, being the Acting State Chairman, to convene a State Executive Committee meeting within two weeks,’’ Metuh said

The committee, he said, should elect a new chairman for the party`s state chapter.