President Jonathan announces plans for re-election; ...heads to Israel for prayers

President Goodluck Jonathan has said he will pick his nomination form on or before the expiration of the deadline given to all aspirants, by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

He stated his decision at a private meeting with governors held at the House 7 wing of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

An official source, who was privy to the meeting said the president thanked the governors for endorsing him and said he has finally made up his mind to take the baton of expression.

The source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the president has already set up his Presidential Declaration Committee and will pick his form on his return from Israel.

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had on Wednesday directed the president and other aspirants to pick their forms for nomination and expression of interest on or before October 30 or risk not participating in the 2015 general elections.

Mr. Jonathan is to formally declare his presidential ambition between November 7 and 15, a decision which will be taken by his re-election committee, his associates said.

The President will on Friday depart Lagos on a brief pilgrimage to Israel, his office said in a statement on Thursday.

The statement issued in Abuja by Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said Mr. Jonathan would visit Christian Holy sites during the pilgrimage.

According to the statement, he will join other Nigerian pilgrims in a prayer session for the well-being and progress of the country at an Inter-Denominational Service in Jerusalem on Sunday.

The president, who will be accompanied by the Chaplain of the Presidential Villa, Obioma Onwuzurumba, and his principal aides, is expected back in Abuja on Monday.

Mr. Jonathan’s trip to Israel, which is his second in 12 months, is coming about four months to the 2015 presidential election in which he is most likely to run as the candidate of the governing Peoples Democratic Party [PDP]. The Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] has fixed February 14, 2015 for the next presidential election.


Credit: Talatu Usman/PremiumTimes

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