PDP Insists on Primaries for Jonathan, Automatic Ticket Would Be Impossible

Should President Goodluck Jonathan make public his desire to contest a second term in office, he would be subjected to a party primary in accordance with the Peoples Democratic Party’s constitution, the party insisted on Friday.

It was gathered in Abuja that although there were no plans by the party to amend its constitution to accommodate automatic tickets, there were attempts to tinker with the constitution during the special-convention of the party on August 31, 2013. The party, however, shelved the plan when aggrieved governors of the party staged a walk-out of the convention.

The constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party 2009 (as amended) empowers the National Executive Committee to formulate guidelines and regulations for the nomination of candidates.

However, Article 17.2 of the Constitution stipulates that: “Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 12 of this Constitution, the National Executive Committee shall regulate the procedure for selecting the party’s candidates for elective offices in the following manner: a. In the conduct of primaries for the party’s candidate for the post of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the primary shall be held at the National Convention of the party specially convened for that purpose.”

A very reliable source in the ruling party said that an automatic ticket for Jonathan would be almost impossible. According to the source who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, giving an automatic ticket to the President should he decide to contest in 2015 would further divide the party.

The source said, “The issue of automatic ticket for the President does not arise even though it has been discussed in the party before. Some of the President’s loyalists want it but this party has a constitution. It is when a party does not have a constitution that you will be talking about such issues. As of today, the party’s constitution has not changed.”

When contacted, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Abdullahi Jalo, also said giving Jonathan an automatic ticket was not feasible.

He said, “The party is doing everything possible to assure its supporters that their interests will be accommodated. The party has no intention whatsoever to victimise anybody. The party is focused on resolving the minor disagreements within the party and bringing about a lasting peace.

“If you listened to what the National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, himself said in London, recently, it confirms that consultations are still going on, especially with our aggrieved members. Our main preoccupation now is the restoration of peace in our party.

“And we are hopeful that our internal problems will be resolved sooner than our detractors expect. Our situation is not beyond repairs. The party and Mr. President are committed more than ever to resolve all the issues.”

Calls made to the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, did not go through neither was a text message sent to him on the subject replied to.

Meanwhile, the Presidency on Friday said Jonathan was still consulting on whether to seek re-election in 2015 or not and would soon make his decision public.

Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, said this in an interview.

Gulak told our correspondent that Jonathan would not make his position known until after due consultations with political leaders in the six geopolitical zones of the country.
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