Jonathan tasks PDP govs on transparent primaries dna-nigeria/jonathan-tasks-pdp-govs-transparent- PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has told governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic (PDP) to avoid the spate of endorsements and imposition of candidates, in their bid to endorse successors. The president, who spoke at a meeting between him and the governors, said the party must avoid wide gaps among its stakeholders, so that the opposition would not be allowed to cash in on the situation. The admonition came on the heels of series of attempts by governors to impose their successors in the states, after the adoption of President Jonathan as the sole presidential candidate in the primaries. Sources at the meeting, which ended in the early hours of Monday, held at the First Lady wing of the Presidential Villa, confirmed that the president asked the governors to stop imposing candidates in the states, as he was already getting reports of discontent. $1.99/Mo. for 12 months of Economy Hosting at GoDaddy “As leaders of the party in the states, you must work with all stakeholders to ensure a united front, as we match towards the next general election,” the president was quoted as saying. He was also quoted as telling the governors that he had taken his endorsement by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party as a serious challenge, adding, however, that the time for him to fully declare his intention had not come. A source told the Nigerian Tribune that the president told the governors that they would be the first to hear from him once he made up his mind on the matter. “I want to tell you my commanders at the states that like I said at the NEC meeting, I am humbled by the endorsement. But I am yet to formally declare, because I am still consulting. I have said that I will take the decision that will be in the best interest of Nigeria,” a source quoted the president as telling the PDP governors. It was gathered that the meeting resolved to hold another session, shortly after the return of the president from a foreign trip scheduled for the weekend. Speaking after the meeting, Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State told State House correspondents that the meeting deliberated on the forthcoming party primaries and how to reposition the PDP to better serve Nigeria. Echoing Shema’s position, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State revealed that the meeting discussed ways to reduce rancour within the party. He reassured that the governorship primaries in the states would be conducted in a transparent, free and fair manner, to ensure that the best candidates emerge. Deputy governor of Kogi State, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, said the meeting was cordial and fruitful, adding that it dwelt on the need to reposition the PDP to meet the yearnings of the citizens Also addressing reporters, the newly sworn in governor of Adamawa State, James Ngilari,spoke on the political events in his state, pointing out that it was stable and everyone was happy with the court judgment which restored him to office. Governors present at the meeting included Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Ngilari (Adamawa), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Ramallan Yero (Kaduna), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Shema (Katsina), Umar Garba (acting governor of Taraba), Orji (Abia), Dr Muazu Aliyu (Niger), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) and David Jang (Plateau). Kogi and Nasarawa states were represented by their deputies.primaries/
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 07:31:37 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015