Nigeria Content Online

The People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) may have finally signed the code of conduct
prepared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for
the 63 registered political parties in the country. The PDP and 13
other parties had last week refused to sign the document because the
political parties said they were not allowed to make input into its
final draft before it was presented to them to sign. They also
protested some provisions of the code of conduct.

The national
secretary of the ruling party, Abubakar Kawu Baraje, had also explained
in a statement that its decision not to sign was based on INEC’s
refusal to carry the parties along while preparing the document.

But it was learnt
yesterday that the national leadership had finally drafted its input
into the document and sent it to the electoral body last week. A source
in the office of the national secretary told NEXT that Mr. Baraje
signed the document last Friday. The nature of the party’s input could
not be known immediately.

“Yes, we have made our input and sent same to the commission,” the source said yesterday.

The party’s spokesman, Ahmed Alkali, could not be reached for
comments, as he was said to be away with the party’s presidential
campaign team. When contacted, Emeka Nwakpa, the media aide to the
acting national chairman, Haliru Mohammed, merely confirmed that the
party has been in touch with INEC. He could not confirm if Mr Baraje
has finally endorsed the document. Kayode Idowu, the spokesperson of
the INEC chairman, said he would confirm with the commission’s acting
director of political party monitoring, Regina Omo-Agege, before
speaking with us on the matter. He promised to respond as soon as
possible, but did not as at press time.