The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raked in over N113 million from the sale of nomination forms to aspirants for various national offices in the December 9, National Elective Convention.
A document obtained by BusinessDay revealed that the party sold nomination forms to 87 aspirants.
While the party sold forms to National Chairman aspirants for N3 million each, that of Deputy National Chairman went for N2 million, while that of National Secretary and Deputy National Secretary went for N2 million and N1.5 million respectively.
Others are: National Legal Adviser, National Treasurer, Deputy National Legal Adviser, National Organising Secretary, National Youth Leader, National Publicity Secretary, National Women’s Leader, which sold for N1.5 million each, while positions like Deputy National Organising Secretary, Deputy National Financial Organising Secretary, Deputy National Auditor, Deputy National Treasurer, Deputy National Youth Leader, National Ex-Officios among others were sold for N500,000 each.
Consequently, the PDP, which is the opposition party, realised N27 million from the nine chairmanship aspirants, N26 million from the 13 aspirants for Deputy National Chairman and N6 million from the three aspirants for National Secretary.
Others are N43.5million from 29 contestants vying for positions of Deputy National Secretary, National Legal Adviser, National Treasurer, Deputy National Legal Adviser, National Organising Secretary, National Youth Leader, National Publicity Secretary and National Women’s Leader.
It also realised N16.5 million from the 33 contenders of Deputy National Organising Secretary, Deputy National Financial Organising Secretary, Deputy National Auditor, Deputy National Treasurer, Deputy National Youth Leader, National Ex-Officios among others.
Meanwhile, ahead of Saturday’s National Elective Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), all major hotels and guest houses in Abuja, the nation’s capital, have been fully-booked.
Also occupied are hotels in bordering states of Niger and Nasarawa .
BusinessDay findings show that while all the hotels in Abuja have been fully paid for, party delegates and supporters of most aspirants are already in town.
A supporter to one of the chairmanship aspirants told our correspondent that he got to the state capital by 2am on Friday but was unable to secure accommodation.
According to the PDP faithful who works for a chairmanship aspirant from the South West, he had to travel to neighbouring Niger State to get accommodation.
“This is the first most competitive convention of the party since it was formed in 1998. In fact, it is like a presidential election. The stakes are high.
“I was in Abuja early on Friday to book hotel rooms for 100 supporters. From Trancorp, Sheraton, Bolton White Apartments, Nicon Luxury, Ajuji, Ibro, all hotels in Abuja are fully-booked.
“I heeded the advice of one of the receptionists who requested that I checked outside Abuja for accommodation. I finally secured accommodation in Niger State”, the chieftain who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed.
The influx of over 2,800 delegates in addition to more than 1,500 supporters and sympathisers in the nation’s capital and bordering states, has also stretched the transportation system in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A visit to the national secretariat of the party on Friday, revealed that it was a beehive of activity as there was massive sale of party souvenirs, even as printing contracts have scaled up in geometric progression.
Furthermore, some branded vehicles are already in town, conveying delegates to their hotels.
