2015: Jonathan Set To Declare Re- Election Bid Next Week To PDP NEC

Information Nigeria has gathered that President Goodluck Jonathan will declare his intention to contest for the 2015 presidential election next Thursday. He is expected to make his intention known at a scheduled meeting of the National Executive Council, NEC, of the party, where a vote of confidence would be passed on the embattled National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, who confirmed that the NEC meeting will hold, next Thursday, however, refused to give details of the agenda. However, it is believed that the party will discuss the defection of some party governors, lawmakers and members to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, among others. According to a report by National Mirror, a member of the National Working Committee, NWC of the party, disclosed that NEC will be formally informed of the president’s intention. He said: “President Jonathan will formally table his reelection bid and will seek the endorsement of the NEC to be given the opportunity to fly the flag of the party once again. “The President has personally requested for this NEC as he intends to use the opportunity to clear the ground concerning the crisis in the party, the leadership of Tukur and his ambition to remain in power till 2019. “Most Nigerians are aware that the President has the intention of remaining in power as far as the constitution permits and he has resolved after due consultations with his immediate family to also seek the permission of the party leaders to continue the good works he is doing. “He will put the records straight and will ignore the opposition mounted by a segment of the elite who are bent on intimidating him out of power”, the NWC member, who pleaded anonymity said. It was further learnt that the meetings of the National Caucus of the party and the Board of Trustees (BoT) slated for January 6 and 7 respectively, will pass a vote of confidence on the president and also endorse his re-election bid. It would be recalled that during a dinner to celebrate the success of its mini-convention held last September at the presidential villa Abuja, PDP BoT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih had called on President Jonathan to declare his ambition on 2015 early so that the party could set machinery in motion for the actualization of his bid.