President Jonathan Launches Campaign Team

Ayorinde Oluokun

Facing what is unarguably his biggest electoral battle yet, President Goodluck Jonathan is set to launch his second term campaign team on Monday.

The team, headed by Ahmadu Ali, a former chairman of the party was scheduled to be inaugurated on Monday afternoon ahead of the February 14 presidential election.

Analysts predicted that the presidential contest in which the President will be going head to head against former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC will be the most keenly contested since the return of Nigeria to democracy in 1999.

Though the President had defeated Buhari in the contest for the Nigerian presidency in 2011, it was believed that repeating the same feat may be difficult for him this time around.

This, analysts said, was because the President’s popularity is at all time low in many parts of the country while his challenger is also contesting on a more national platform.

But it was not clear if the ceremony will still go ahead as a result of the death of a sister to the President yesterday.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Political Matters to the President, Professor Rufai Alkali last Thursday indicated that the inauguration will take place at the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] presidential campaign office at Legacy House, in the Maitama District of Abuja by 2 p.m.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Tony Anenih, has been appointed the National Campaign Adviser, while a former National Chairman of the PDP, Ahmadu Ali, will serve as the Director-General of the campaign organisation while Tunde Adeniran, a former minister will serve as Deputy Director-General of the campaign’s head office.

The Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, will serve as Deputy Directors-General for North and South respectively.

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, is the Director of Media and Publicity, while former Information Minister, Jerry Gana, is the head of the campaign’s contact and mobilization unit.

Aliyu Umar, a former Minister of Information will head the directorate of administration and logistics, while ex-Minister and Senator, Nenadi Usman, will head the finance directorate.

Senator Nimi Amange is the Head Directorate of Planning, Research and Statistics, the Directorate of Security and Intelligence will be headed by Emmanuel Imohe, and Youth Mobilisation by PDP’s National Youth Leader, Abdullahi Maibasira.

Nick Eze will head the Directorate on Civil Society and Support Groups, while Becky Igwe will head that of Women Mobilization.