Eligibility: More Hurdles for Jonathan

Son of the former Prime Minister, Abdul Jelili Tafawa Belawa who was denied presidential nomination and expression of interest form of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has threatened court action to challenge the decision of the national leadership of the party.

Also Dr. Umar Ardo a presidential aspirant who is still challenging President's adoption at the Court of Appeal said that despite the collection of the presidential nomination form by Jonathan that it was not yet uhuru as the court had the final say on the matter.

The PDP processes to nominate its flag bearers at all categories, the party would today commence the election of more than 8000 national and states' delegates for the presidential, states, National and States Assembly.

Balewa told newsmen that he would be proceeding to court to challenge the decision of PDP to deny him the opportunity to contest for the PDP Presidential Ticket.

According to him, "I paid for the presidential nomination form and obtained the Zenith Bank teller but PDP refused to give me the form for which I paid for.  This is abuse of my fundamental rights and I intend to go court for the respect of abuse of fundamental human right. This is not fair. I was asked to come on Thursday and when I came, the party still refused to give me the form. This is not fair. The court will decide this matter for posterity sake."

On his reaction to President Jonathan picking the form despite on-going suit at the Court of Appeal, Dr. Umar Ardo from Adamawa state said, "I am shocked that in spite of the litany of court cases challenging the eligibility of President Jonathan to contest the 2015 election, the president was still lured into picking the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms.

"All I can say is that the collection of forms by the president means very little - with the courts still superintending over his eligibility or otherwise it is still not yet uhuru for the president as far as his contesting the 2015 elections is concerned. After all, didn't Fintiri collect forms and even secured the party ticket for the Adamawa governorship election? What happened to Fintiri is likely to happen to Jonathan. I am confident of that.

"After that the PDP Presidential forms will be available to all interested and eligible Nigerians. I advise Nigerians to just wait for the due process of law to take its full course. We will all come out stronger."

"Today, PDP would hold its national and states' delegates. The congresses in the 36 states would elect delegates for the presidential and governorship candidates of PDP where the gubernatorial elections would be taking place as well as the Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates. In the same vein, the states' delegates would elect the candidates to the State Assembly.