Baring any unforseen events, President Muhammadu Buhari would on September 20 get the ticket of the All Progressive Congress as its sole Presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2019 general elections. Buhari so far has been the only person that has signified intention to fly the party’s flag at the elections.

The party has also fixed N45 million as nomination fees for aspirants to the highest office in the country. And it is not clear if the President would purchase the form as he was quoted as having complained about its high cost citing that he was a salary earner.

In the guidelines for the primaries released yesterday in line with the approval by the National Executive Commmittee (NEC), governorship primary will hold on September 25, senatorial primary is fixed for September 27 and House of Representatives for September 29. The House of Assembly primary has been fixed for October 2.

Nomination forms will go on sale from today till September 10. They will be available at the state offices and at the national secretariat. All forms are to be returned to the national secretariat by September 12. Nationwide congresses to elect delegates to the national convention to pick the presidential candidate will also hold on September 12.

Nomination fees are: Governorship (N22.5milion) Senatorial (N7million), House of Representatives (3.85 millio) and  House of Assembly (N850,000).

However, female aspirants and the physically-challenged who usually enjoy free nomination form are expected to pay half of the nomination fees for the office they are aspiring to.  While the guidelines and timetable are specific that the presidential candidate will emerge through direct primary, it is silent on the mode for other positions.

With reports from The Nation