Jonathan accepts adoption as PDP candidate, says he’s ‘humbled’

Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday accepted his adoption as the sole presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP by the National Executive Committee, NEC and the Board of Trustees, BOT of the ruling party.

PDP NEC, the highest organ of the ruling party had on Thursday after its 66th meeting at the Abuja announced its adoption of President Jonathan as sole candidate of the party in the 2015 presidential election.

PDP NEC claimed that this was because Jonathan has been able to change the face of Nigeria through his transformation agenda.

Governor of Niger State and Chairman, Northern States Governors’ Forum, NSGF, Muazu Babangida Aliyu who spoke first and on behalf of all the PDP governors told NEC members that at the meeting of the governors held on Wednesday at the Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, the governors had unanimously adopted and endorsed Jonathan as the party’s sole candidate for next year’s election without any dissenting voice.

Also, speaking for PDP BOT, Alhaji Shaibu Oyedokun said the body has also agreed that Jonathan should be the sole candidate of the party in the 2015 election.

In the same vein, the PDP caucus in the National Assembly also announced its endorsement of President Jonathan by lawmakers who are members of the party. In his reaction, Jonathan who is yet to declare his second term ambition told party members at the meeting that he was humbled and overwhelmed by the endorsements.

“Let me really say that the events of yesterday, starting with BoT meeting last night and what has just happened today, with the various motions adopting me as sole candidate of the party has really humbled me.

“Let me specially thank our governors that initiated that action, let me thank members of BoT, let me thank the senate president and members of the National Assembly, let me appreciate the PDP women for their position and the NEC, because no matter whatever anybody does, if NEC does not concur, you will be on your own.”

Adopting me as the sole candidate of the party has humbled me; I am totally overwhelmed.

“When the governors came up in a joint statement, though House of Representatives started it, governors intervention was like an atomic bomb, I commend all departments of the NEC.

“I am so overwhelmed that I lack words to express myslef. I leave it for another day. For today, for you to have that kind of confidence, I am extremely challenged. It means that whatever we have done in the past three years, we tripple it. That is the only way Nigerians will appreciate it. I promise I will not disappoint you,” the President said.