Atiku Group Vows To Vote For GEJ

Barely eleven days before Nigerians head to the polls to elect who will lead the country for the next four years, the re-election bid of the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan has received a boost with the endorsement of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s candidate by the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM.

The PDM is a political group formed by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a stalwart of the main opposition All Progressives Congress, APC.

According to Thisday newspaper report published online, the decision of the South-west chapter of the group to support and work for Jonathan was revealed at a news conference held in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Monday, March 16, 2015.

It was reported that the news conference was attended by leaders and members of the group from six South-west states of Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Lagos.

The Coordinator of the Jonathan/ Sambo  Campaign Council and Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and some leaders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state were also at the conference held at the Ondo State Cultural Centre, Akure, the report added.

Speaking with newsmen at the occasion, the leader of the group from Ekiti State and a former member of House of Representatives, Hon. Bode Ajewole, said members of the group had reviewed happenings in Nigeria and more importantly in the South-west and had agreed to work for the re-election of President Jonathan.

Advertisement

According to Ajewole, the decision of the group was as a result of their belief that Jonathan would implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference which is line with yearnings of the Yoruba people over the years.

He opined that the alleged controversies which trailed the last presidential primaries of the APC was one of the reasons they had to take the decision.

Atiku Group Declares Support For President Jonathan

Ajewole added that they had reviewed the presidential primaries and decided not to work for the APC candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

“Certainly, the process and the outcome of the APC presidential primary left much to be desired and we cannot work for the candidate of the party.

“On the ongoing debate concerning the  restructuring of Nigeria to have true federalism, which the Yoruba people have long been waiting for, we in the AAA/PDM collectives in the South-west, have deliberated on and reached the conclusion that we should align with the yearning of the Yoruba people.

“Believing in the ultimate fulfilment of Jonathan promises to us in the South-west, we therefore direct all members of AAA/PDM collectives and all members of the Yar’ Adua political family in the South-west including those in APC, SDP. PDM. Labour Party and Accord Party to support, work and vote for President Goodluck Jonathan,” he said.

Speaking further, Ajewole urged the group’s coordinators in all the polling units, 1,534 wards and the 138 local government areas in the six states to work assiduously and ensure victory for Jonathan in the presidential election on March 28.

Atiku Group Declares Support For President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan

Commenting on the step taken by PDM in the South-west, Mimiko, who read a memo allegedly written by Atiku Abubakar on the need for true federalism and restructuring of Nigeria, said the decision of the group was a very bad one for APC and good day for PDP.

The incumbent Governor of Ondo state promised that all polling units, wards and local governments in the South-west would be energised to accommodate members of the group.

Mimiko said all the self-determined groups are determined to support Jonathan based on the conviction that he would implement the recommendations of the National Conference.

He said Jonathan would not only win in the South-west but the zone would deliver the highest number of votes among the zones.

It would be recalled that the Alliance for Democracy, AD, had last week dropped its candidate for presidency to pledge allegiance to the election of Presaident Jonathan.

The dropped presidential candidate is Dr Rafiu Salau.

According to reports, Salau was dumped on last Tuesday after a decision was made at the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Lagos.