With the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) unanimously adopting him as the party’s sole candidate, the coast seems clear for President Goodluck Jonathan to run in the 2015 election.
The decision, which was taken at the party’s NEC meeting in Abuja yesterday, is expected to be ratified at the national convention billed to hold on December 6. The NEC is the highest decision making organ of the party. Its stand makes the convention a mere formality.
Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu set the ball rolling when he announced that governors elected on the platform of the party had decided to adopt Jonathan its sole candidate for the election.
Aliyu said the governors unanimously took the decision without reservation, adding that it was informed by the need for the party to go into the 2015 elections with a united front.
Aliyu created a mild drama when he beckoned on Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido to attest to and identify with the governors’ position. Lamido, with a broad smile, got up from his seat, nodded in agreement and gave Jonathan the thumps up.
Until yesterday, Lamido had been the lone voice within the PDP challenging the President’s re-election bid. Judging by his disposition at the meeting, he appeared to have surrendered.
Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Shuaib Oyedokun, who stood in for the chairman, spoke on behalf of the trustees. According to him, the BoT decided to adopt the President for the party’s stability.
Senate President David Mark, who also conveyed the endorsement of the party’s National Assembly caucus, said the legislature preaches and believes in continuity.
Mark said the lawmakers had met and decided the matter.
“It’s a legacy we have decided to lay for the party. He is a siting and performing President; we should allow him to go ahead. We unanimously adopt him as our sole presidential candidate for the 2015 election,” Maku said.
Mrs. Justina Eze spoke in a similar vein on behalf of the party’s women, saying they also decided in the interest of the party.
Thereafter, a former Acting National chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Haliru Bello Mohammed, moved the motion for Jonathan’s adoption.
He said there was no reason to change a winning formula, adding that the President had performed well enough to deserve a second term.
A former governor of the old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, who seconded the motion, also said the Jonathan team had done well and deserved a second term. The motion received an overwhelming affirmative voice vote.
Jonathan expressed appreciation for is adoption, saying he was overwhelmed by the party members’ support.
“I am so overwhelmed that I lack the words to express my appreciation. For you to have that confidence in me, I will not disappoint you,” the President told the party chiefs.
Jonathan then promised that terrorism, which he described as a secession plot, would be brought to an end by mid-October.
“Things must change by the middle of October. We will bring terrorism to an end, no matter what it takes,” Jonathan said. He gave no reasons for the optimism.
Jonathan justified the September 22 resumption date for primary and secondary schools.
According to him, keeping the schools closed any further could send the wrong signal to the rest of the world that Nigeria is being ravaged by the Ebola virus. The country, he said, has contained the spread of the disease.
“We must be able to tell the world that we have been able to contain Ebola. We are watchful and by God’s grace, we will not have another Patrick Sawyer in the country,” he said.
PDP National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu announced that the party would be holding its fund raising dinner on October 15.
According to him, the dinner is meant to raise enough funds to prosecute the 2015 elections and to complete the party’s permanent national secretariat.
