TheCable

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has noted the refusal of Akasoba Duke-Abiola to collect her presidential expression-of-interest and nomination forms in spite of the one-week extension granted by the party, which expires on November 14.

The PDP had initially refused to release the forms to her and Ghalil Tafawa Balewa.

However, on November 3, the party changed its position, allowing aspirants to obtain the presidential expression-of-interest and nomination forms.

On Thursday, the PDP accused Duke-Abiola of willfully refusing to collect her expression-of interest form with Code Number PD002/P and Serial Number 0000003 and nomination form with Code Number PD003/P and Serial Number 0000003 even after it was sent to her through her lawyers.

Olisa Metuh, PDP’s spokesman, said Duke-Abiola’s refusal to collect the forms suggested an ulterior motive, adding that other aspirants including Ghalil Tafawa

Balewa and President Goodluck Jonathan collected their forms on October 30, 2014 and November 6, 2014 respectively.

“The party expressed surprise that Duke-Abiola, chose to go to court instead of taking advantage of the extension, which expires on Friday, November 14 to collect her forms,” Metuh said.

Stating that the aspirant still has until the close of November 14, 2014 to collect her forms, PDP said failure to do so, it will have no option than to “consider her as not being interested in the contest, but out to cause confusion and foment trouble in the party”.