Jonathan: I will seek re-election

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday told People’s Democratic Party leaders at a private meeting that he will seek re-election in 2015—but he stopped short of making an official public announcement on it. He said during the meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja that he will obtain the ruling party’s nomination forms before the deadline expires […]

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday told People’s Democratic Party leaders at a private meeting that he will seek re-election in 2015—but he stopped short of making an official public announcement on it.

He said during the meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja that he will obtain the ruling party’s nomination forms before the deadline expires on Thursday, according to a Presidency official who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity.
Jonathan’s statement yesterday was the closest to him making public his intention to seek re-election, but it had been obvious all along that he is planning to run.
He has already been endorsed as PDP’s sole presidential candidate ahead of the December 6 primaries.
An official who was briefed on what happened at the meeting said Jonathan also raised a committee to formulate a programme for the public declaration of his re-election bid.
The declaration would be held between November 7 and 15, the official added.
The committee, headed by Dr. Bello Halliru Mohammed from Kebbi State, comprises representatives of the zones as follows: South-South (6), South-East (5), South-West (5), FCT (1), North-West (5), North-East (6) and North Central (6).
It has Senator Ken Namani from Enugu as Deputy Chairman, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim from Ebonyi as Secretary, while members include Prof. Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali from Gombe, Mr. Julius Imagwe from Edo and Ms. Baraka Sani from Kano.
Also on the committee are Barrister Halima Alfa (Kogi), Nigerian Ambassador to Netherlands, Mrs Nimota Nihinlola Akanbi (Kwara), FCT ALGON Chairman Micah Yohanna Jiba (FCT) and Mr. Sam Ikon (Akwa Ibom).
Governors to represent the six zones on the committee are Liyel Imoke, Cross River (South South), Theodore Orji, Abia (South East), Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo (South West), Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu, Niger (North Central), Ibrahim Shema, Katsina (North West), and Ibrahim Dankwambo, Gombe (North East).
The National Assembly is being represented by Sen. Hosea Agbola (Oyo), Sen. Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Rep. Bitrus Kaze (Plateau) and Rep. Salmas Badru (Ogun).
Ministers in the committee are Petroleum Minister Dieziani Alison-Madueke (Bayelsa), Police Affairs Minister Abduljelili Adesiyan (Osun), Women Affairs Minister Zainab Maina (Adamawa), and FCT Minister Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).
Representatives of PDP officials are Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus (Rivers), Benue Chapter Chairman Emmanuel Egbo, National Woman Leader Kema Chikwe (Imo) and North West Zonal Chairman, Amb. Ibrahim Kazaure (Jigawa).
Party members are to be represented by Sen. Stella Umo (Delta), Sen. Walid Jibrin (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Bunu (Borno), Rev. Jolly Nyame (Taraba), Sen. Aniete Okon (Akwa Ibom), Peter Obi (Anambra), Mrs. Remi Adiuku Bakare (Lagos), and Gen. Aabdullahi Bagudu Mamman (FCT).
It was not clear yesterday why the Presidency decided not to officially announce Jonathan’s decision to run for re-election.
But the president’s reluctance to publicly declare his aspiration has been linked with a court case challenging his eligibility.
A court had previously thrown out the case against him on the ground that he had not publicly said he would run in the 2015 presidential election.
But some politicians and activists went back to the courts last month following the PDP’s decision to adopt Jonathan as sole candidate.
They argued that Jonathan is not eligible to run because if he wins he would have a cumulative period of up to nine years to serve as president, starting May 5, 2010 when he replaced the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. They contended that the constitution provides eight years as the maximum cumulative period that a president can serve.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja is scheduled to hear the case on Wednesday.