The Social Democratic Party (SDP), on Tuesday in Abuja endorsed the candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan in the Feb. 14 presidential election.
The National Publicity of SDP, Abdul Isiaq, said this at a news conference in Abuja.
He said that the party reached the decision following the report of a committee set up by its National Executive Committee on adoption of presidential candidates.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the National Chairman of the party, Chief Olu Falae, had hinted of the party’s decision to adopt a presidential candidate.
He said that the committee also observed that PDP had also accepted the SDP’s required conditions to warrant the party’s support.
Mr. Isiaq said that part of the conditions was that PDP would faithfully implement the 2014 National Conference report as a basis for restructuring Nigeria.
Others, he added, were adoption of policy of zero tolerance for corruption and intensification of efforts to defeat insurgency in the North East, among others.
“Based on the foregoing observations, the committee has unanimously recommended that SDP should endorse and support the candidature of Jonathan.
“This is to enable him to complete the restructuring of the polity based on the report of the National Conference 2014.
“The party has accepted these recommendations and hereby directed all its supporters and members throughout Nigeria to vote for Jonathan”, Isiaq said.

Meanwhile, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for a second tenure of office.
The President-General of the group, Garry Igariwey, made the assertion on Tuesday in Umuahia, while briefing Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia, and the chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum.
The briefing was on the outcome of the meeting of the group in Enugu.
Mr. Igariwey said the decision to endorse Mr. Jonathan was unanimously taken at an enlarged meeting of all the affiliate Igbo groups.
He said the organisation was convinced that Mr. Jonathan’s administration had made tremendous efforts to address the infrastructure needs of the people of the South-East.
He appealed to other zones in the country to support Mr. Jonathan’s candidacy, saying it was only fair and just to allow the South-South to complete a second tenure.

In the meantime, Former President Ibrahim Babangida has described President Goodluck Jonathan as dependable leader for the country. He stated this on Tuesday when he played host to Jonathan and his campaign entourage in Minna. The former military leader said Jonathan was a leader who would continue with the dreams of the country’s founding fathers.
Babangida said he shared the same passion of peaceful, stable and developed Nigeria with Jonathan. He added that “whenever I discussed with him, I see a young man who has passion for Nigeria. Under Jonathan, Nigeria is in safe hands.
Earlier, Jonathan had described Babangida as a dependable pillar in ensuring continued peace and stability of the country.
“You are not like some other past leaders. We pray for long life for you so that you can continue to mentor the country and to give rightful direction to us.’’
The President later visited the palace of the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Bahago, where he solicited the support and cooperation of the royal father.
He said he would continue with the development strides in the areas of transport, power, education and general infrastructure.
Bahago pledged the support of his emirate for Jonathan, adding that the electoral reforms put in place would ensure peace and progress of the country.

A Pan African group, Northern Ethnic Youth Group Assembly (NEYGA) said it has decided to declare a total support for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office because he has performed credibly above his predecessors with his transformational programme which is very evidence in the six geo-political zones of the country.
The group stated this yesterday shortly after rising from its extraordinary session held in Keffi, Nasarawa state through the President of Ijaw Youth Council, Comrade (Eng.) Udengs Eradiri who said after due deliberation and consultation with relevant stakeholders and pressure groups affiliated to it, it considered the present state of the nation vis-à-vis the leadership of the country, hence, its decision to support Jonathan for a reelection.

Also, No fewer than 371 traditional rulers in Enugu State have pledged their support to President Goodluck Jonathan in the forthcoming general elections.
The traditional rulers expressed their support for the president in Enugu during a meeting with him on the sides of his campaign rally.
Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, assured the President that the state would remain a PDP state.
According to him, the President has no problem in the state because the people would always vote for a reliable government.

(NAN) Daily independent, punch