A pressure group within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, under the aegis of the National Coalition for Jonathan/Sambo Presidency, has asked the leadership of the party to give Jonathan an automatic ticket to contest the 2015 presidential elections.
The group’s position was presented to the National Secretary of the PDP, Professor Wale Oladipo, by the national secretary of the coalition; Mr. Benjamin Irikefe, at the party headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
Irikefe urged the PDP Board of Trustees and the National Executive Committee, to convene a special emergency meeting of the two organs and pass a resolution adopting President Jonathan as the party’s flag bearer for the 2015 polls.
He said, “After a meticulous X-ray of the monumental works and achievements, the dexterity with which President Goodluck Jonathan has piloted the affairs of our country and taking a cue from the presidential system of government of the United States from where we copied ours, we want to unequivocally call on you, to convene an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee, and the National Working Committee of the PDP and take a unanimous decision to grant President Jonathan an automatic ticket to contest the 2015 presidential election”.
The group described as a waste of time, any attempt to make the president pass through a primary should he declare his intention to contest the election.
Oladipo, who received the delegation on behalf of the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, assured them that the party leadership would forward their request to the appropriate quarters.
Oladipo said, “I thank you for your support for the leader of the party, Dr Goodluck Jonathan.
“Your message is very clear and we shall communicate to the PDP Board of Trustees and all other organs of the party.
“We believe in the rule of law and we will be guided by two things: the Nigerian Constitution and the PDP constitution.
“I am from the South-West and as early as last year, the leader of South-West had endorsed Dr. Jonathan.
“I can’t extricate myself from the wishes of my people. We are on the same page.
“This country must continue to grow. We commend the leadership of the country under President Jonathan. We shall do the needful to make sure that the transformation agenda of Mr. President continues”.
