President Goodluck Jonathan might
have kicked off the campaign for his
2015 reelection bid despite his
insistence that he has not declared
his ambition.
Indications to this effect emerged on
Saturday at the South-West
sensitisation rally organised by the
Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos.
Although the President who attended
the rally said it was not a political
campaign, he used the platform to
make a strong case for his reelection
come 2015, even as he stressed the
achievements of his administration.
President Jonathan attended the rally
with members of his cabinet, PDP
governors and national leaders of the
party, who repeatedly called on the
audience to vote for the President in
2015.
While Jonathan was cheered on by
the crowd, Vice-President Namadi
Sambo, the PDP National Chairman,
Adamu Mu’azu and other top
members of the party told the crowd
the President deserved a second
term.
In his speech, the President who was
adopted as PDP’s 2015 presidential
candidate, thanked the leadership of
the party for choosing him as its
candidate.
Adding that he had the right to refuse
the offer, Jonathan said the decision
to endorse him for the 2015
presidency was made by the party
and that no member of the PDP
could dictate who became what in
the party.
He said, “I also have the right of
refusal and I thank the party for
giving me the opportunity. The idea
of the rally is for us to come
together; for us to see our faces and
for us to dance and clap together, so
that we will know that we all belong
to one political party; the largest
political party in Africa.”
At the Lagos rally, President
Jonathan reeled out his
achievements. He said he had
established a Presidential Jobs Board
and that the board would “ create
three million jobs in the next one
year. That means in a few years, we
would solve the problem of
unemployment.”
The President also scored his
government high on the provision of
infrastructure, as well as
construction and rehabilitation of
roads and railways.
He said his government had created
opportunities for Nigerians to
participate in the oil sector more than
ever before.
He also thanked the leaders of the
PDP in the South-West for winning
Ekiti State governorship election,
saying the party was working hard to
win in all states in the zone.
He said, “I thank Ekiti people for
returning the state to the PDP. There
is no single PDP state in the South-
West, yet you remained committed.
We thank you for that position and
surely you will be rewarded. We are
here to bring our members together
but we will surely return for
campaign. When you are in Lagos,
you are addressing the whole country
because all Nigerians are
represented here.
“We continue to promise to transform
Nigeria; make changes and never go
back. We need all Nigerians to work
with us. In the next few years,
unemployment will continue to drop.
We are totally committed to changing
all sectors of the Nigerian economy.”
Speaking at the event, Mu’azu said
all members of the party were
committed to Jonathan’s second
term bid and that it was a reward for
the President’s “achievements in the
first term.”
He said, “We choose Lagos for this
rally because it is the most
populated and hosts most of the
economic activities in the country. It
is to reflect our unity in the South-
West and as a result of the unity, we
have started recovering our states in
the South-West. And in 2015, we will
win more states.
“Everybody knows that the PDP
controls the majority of the people in
the South-West. Therefore, we are
saying in 2015, we will take over
more states in the South-West.
“Mr. President, we want to assure
you that because your first term has
been so transforming, by the grace
of God, people of South-West and
the people of Nigeria will reward you
in 2015 by re-electing you as the
President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.”
“All leaders and members of the
party are committed to your coming
back as President and we pray that
Almighty God will favour us.”
Also speaking, the Chairman, PDP-GF
and Governor of Akwa Ibom State,
Godswill Akpabio, stated that the
ruling party was set to take over the
South-West from the opposition.
He said, “We have started winning
the South-West and, by the grace of
God, Lagos will soon fall and
become a PDP state.”
In the same vein, Vice-President
Sambo, said the South-West, and
Lagos State in particular, had
benefitted a lot from the present
administration in terms of
infrastructural development.
He urged the people of the zone to
support Jonathan in 2015 as they
supported him in 2011.
The opposition All Progressives
Congress however expressed its
disapproval of the event.
The National Publicity Secretary of
the APC, Lai Mohammed, said,
“Whatever name that rally was held
under, one thing is clear; it is a
campaign. It is a violation of our
electoral rules.
“And when you see a President
becoming the chief law-breaker in a
country, you cannot start talking
about the rule of law in that country.
“It is unfortunate that the INEC has
not got the courage to check this
illegality. With what has happened, I
don’t see how we can then sanction
any other party that does a similar
thing.
“It is a pity because this President
has no respect for any laws. And his
desire for re-election has blinded him
to all other things. It is unfortunate.”
But the Independent National
Electoral Commission on Saturday
said all parties were flouting the
electoral laws by engaging in such
activities outside of the stipulated
timeline for campaigns by law.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC
Chairman, Kayode Idowu, said this in
response to SUNDAY PUNCH enquiry
on INEC’s view on the Lagos rally.
“The rules on electoral campaigns
are there; all parties are flouting
those rules, without exception. All
parties across the divide are flouting
those rules. Why they are flouting
the rules is that there are gaps in the
law.
“The guidelines we are preparing are
intended to bridge (this). The law
states that the period for a political
party to campaign is 90 days before
elections. You can begin to debate:
What is the difference between a
political party and another entity that
isn’t? What is the implication?
“Another thing is that the law does
not talk about candidates. So, you
can begin to debate: Who is a
political candidate? What about if it
is the candidate? There are many
gaps that can be exploited and the
political parties have been exploiting
those gaps,” he said.
Idowu said the guideline, which INEC
was preparing, would be tabled at the
quarterly meeting held by the
commission and all political parties
this month. He added that they would
be expected to make final moves
towards the validation of electoral
guidelines.

http://www.punchng.com/news/jonathan-begins-2015-campaign/

President Jonathan addressing party
faithful at the S/West Sensitization &
Unity Rally in Lagos

Pres. Jonathan, VP Sambo, PDP Chair & other party leaders at the S/West Sensitization/Unity Rally in Lagos

President Jonathan & PDP Chair
Alhaji Muazu welcoming former APC
members to the PDP at the S/W rally
in Lagos

President Jonathan & PDP Chair
Alhaji Muazu welcoming former APC
members to the PDP at the S/W rally
in Lagos

A/Ibom Gov Akpabio, Ekiti Guv-elect
Fayose and Cross River Guv Liyel
Imoke At PDP Unity Rally in Lagos

Governor Akpabio, Governor
Uduaghan & Governor Dickson @
PDP Unity Rally in Lagos

S/west Ministers at the PDP
Sensitization/Unity Rally in Lagos

HRM Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu 1
welcoming President Jonathan to his
palace earlier before d rally

Pres. Jonathan, VP Sambo, PDP
Chair Muazu, Dep. Speaker, HoR,
Dep. Guv. Lagos & Chief George with
Oba of Lagos

President Jonathan during a
courtesy visit to the Oba of Lagos
earlier

President Jonathan, Chief Anthony
Anenih & CoS Arogbofa at the
Presidential wing of the Abuja
Airport

God Bless President Jonathan!

Isn't it funny how INEC place a ban on Campaigns but look the other way when this is happening. If it were the Opposition, their tongues will be everywhere.

Am glad APC has avoided this trap. Jonathan will be sent home in 2015 - Nigerians cannot afford 4 more years of Corruption.

egift: Isn't it funny how INEC place a ban on Campaigns but look the other way when this is happening. If it were the Opposition, their tongues will be everywhere.

Am glad APC has avoided this trap. Jonathan will be sent home in 2015 - Nigerians cannot afford 4 more years of Corruption.

You sabi cry this boy, enjoy the pinshure ja re.

GEJ TILL 2019...d loggo is umbrella....PDP Shall soar again in south west.

PDP!!! Power!!!

egift: Isn't it funny how INEC place a ban on Campaigns but look the other way when this is happening. If it were the Opposition, their tongues will be everywhere.
Am glad APC has avoided this trap. Jonathan will be sent home in 2015 - Nigerians cannot afford 4 more years of Corruption.

Seems you are having headache already. Let Nigerians decide.

No need for it.
Learn how to invest and earn reasonable profit every month at
www.profitng.com

oya oga 4rm otuoke let d spending begin

ceo4eva:
Although the President who attended
the rally said it was not a political
campaign, he used the platform to
make a strong case for his reelection
come 2015

Confused lot!

Does CAMPAIGNING now have a new definition in the dictionary? Cos I don't get it.

Must they keep insulting our intelligence?

But he's the sole coandidate na? Why campaign?

Ok ooh

Na today ?

Pollutants.

And here people tot his visit to the synagogue church was to sympathise with the victims, little did they know it was a political visit. He wanted the man God to check if he will win the election.

I guess his visit yielded the answer he was looking for, hence his campaign to the Oba's palace.

Carry on Jona, we dey ur back

Jonathan! Jonathan!! Jonathan!!!
How many times I call u?



Don't contest 2015.

op God bless u for those pix. And for those who call it campaign u're OYO, it is called sensitizatn. Leave d dog to go by d name its owner has given it. Our ppl say "he who hate somebody doesn't call him by his title name".

Oga Jonah,stop spending; start mending.

Y

Crooks! They cannot dress formerly!