By Samuel Ogidan
Abuja
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied the son of Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Abdul Jhahil Tafawa Balewa, and the wife of late Abiola, Prof. Akasoba Zainab Duke-Abiola, presidential nomination and expression of interest forms even when they paid the full amount.
While Balewa paid N20 million for nomination form and N2 million for expression of interest form to PDP account at the Zenith Bank, Abiola paid the some of N2 million as required by the guideline of PDP for female aspirants to Diamond Bank.
It would be recalled that the leadership of the party, the governors, the caucus the National Executive Committee (NEC) and other stakeholders of the party had recently endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as the sole presidential candidate for the 2015 presidential election.
While Balewa explained to journalists that he was told to come back today, Duke-Abiola said she was told in plain words that the party only printed one presidential form.
Balewa said: “I was told they don’t have the form ready, but I will send my people to the party national secretariat on Thursday to buy the form.
“We have over 40 million Nigerians’ signatures that want a change. I went to see the National Secretary and National Organising Secretary and I was told that the forms were not ready.”
Duke-Abiola said: “I have paid and I was not given the form and I asked why and they said they only printed one form. The National Organising Secretary and National Chairman of the party told me this. I demanded for the one form and they said I know who the form was printed for, but I told them I don’t know.”