President Goodluck Jonathan may have prevailed on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to challenge President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s victory  in last Saturday’s election.

Instead of planning a case for the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, the Presidency will raise a Transition Committee on Tuesday, a source told The Nation yesterday.

Vice President-elect Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is likely to head the All Progressives Congress (APC) team which will join the committee ahead of the May 29 transition.

Ministers have started preparing their handover notes, it was also learnt.

It was gathered that although some PDP stalwarts wanted Buhari’s victory challenged at the tribunal, the President thought otherwise.

The party stalwarts, it was said, believe that some irregularities in some states are strong enough to upturn the final results of the election, which was hailed at home and abroad as substantially credible. Jonathan, it was learnt, said it made no sense —contesting Buhari’s victory— after he had conceded defeat.

It was learnt that the PDP leaders referred  to the electoral scenario in  Ekiti where  the All Progressives Congress(APC) went to tribunal  despite the acceptance of defeat by ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The President, however, stood his ground that he would rather stand by his statesmanship attitude than going to tribunal.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The President has prevailed on PDP to drop plans to go to tribunal against Buhari. He said he wants his word to be his bond, having been applauded by the international community.

“At a point, Jonathan said ‘I don’t believe in post-election petition at tribunal because it distracts the incoming administration’.

“He also said Nigeria must emulate other nations where once the presidential poll is lost and won, the new government must not be distracted with election petitions.

“He told party leaders that he was not interested in going to the tribunal. It is now left for PDP leaders to heed his advice.

“So as at Thursday, the government’s position is that the PDP should not go to tribunal.”

Stating the PDP’s position on the elections in a statement yesterday, Chairman Adamu Mu’azu, said:   “We have received reports of serious irregularities that characterized the conduct of the election and we shall channel our protests to the appropriate quarters in line with our profound respect for the rule of law and democratic ethos.”

He did not say whether the party would go to the tribunal but added:  “What is paramount to us is the survival of our democracy, the unity, peace and progress of our dear nation and the happiness of all our people. Nigeria is bigger than any political party, individual or group and her overall interest must be our priority at all times.”

The President in 2010 at the 15th summit of the African Union (AU) in Kampala, Uganda described post-election litigation as a major distraction to governance.

Jonathan said: “It is inconvenient to already be in office and be thinking about election litigation.

“The essence of the immunity clause in the constitution is that if a president or a governor takes an oath of office, he should sit down and concentrate on the job and when he leaves office, he could be prosecuted for any offence.

“But because of the way we conduct our elections, the president who sits in office is still battling and being distracted with election issues, and it affects us.”

The transition committee is likely to be constituted next week.

Another source added: “The Presidency is working on a seamless transition from Jonathan’s administration to Buhari’s. The details are being worked out.”

“I think by next week, the picture of the transition committee will emerge. The government is working early on the transition because it involves a lot of work.

“The APC team will have to collaborate with the committee and ask questions if there are grey areas.”

Meanwhile, Ministers have started compiling their handover notes, which will be part of the integral aspect of the report of the transition committee.

SOURCE: http://thenationonlineng.net/new/jonathan-stops-pdps-bid-to-contest-buharis-victory/

He already knew he would lose the election but was campaigning in order to satisfy the cabals and PDP members pushing him to contest the election. This made him to quickly concede his election loss. I was not in anyway surprised at his post election speech. All glory to God of this nation

Jonathan tell them...sycophants

They are fighting for themselves; not the President.

While Jonathan is doing all he can to stay out of jail, get a warm retirement arrangements that will help him keep most of his loots - some ignorant TANiods are trying to put Sand-Sand in his Garri

Now where are those who promised hell to stop Buhari and Nigerian?

I have always maintained: This Change Is Unstoppable. God has remembered Nigerians and has delivered us from the claws of Corruption.

Sai Buhari. God bless Africa.

Not a bad decision. The earlier he focuses, the better.

I would also like others to know that in a democracy, his powers are not absolute, but limited. So enough of some of the ignorant APC supporters saying 'bla bla bla he will send so so so person to jail just for the fvck of it' e.g Fayose,FFK for insulting him. I'll like to see him do that.

He knows what a futile exercise it would be. The court would simply adjourn the case till September. Then we'd see how a court can sack a sitting president.

Jonathan has really played his card well on this one. He's finally bowing out a hero and not the villain I'd always seen him to be.

I just thought of Allison Madueke! Her handing-over go get plenty 'k-leg'.

Really nice. Its time for the nation to move forward

nerodenero:
I just thought of Allison Maduekwe! Her handing-over go get plenty 'k-leg'.

Hahahahahhaha.it will take pwc to fix it again

More respect to Jonathan.

With the assumption of Buhari,some of them are politically dead,or irrelevant..

And GEJ is smart to know the only way to redeem his battered image is to concede victory to GMB..

To me,this is a wise move from him..

To the. PDP political hawks,go and die.

omenka:
He knows what a futile exercise it would be. The court would simply adjourn the case till September. Then we'd see how a court can sack a sitting president.

Jonathan has really played his card well on this one. He's finally bowing out a hero and not the villain I'd always seen him to be.

It is good for him. It is also commendable. It is a last minute Retirement Plan to protect what is left of his legacy. It is a smart move. Am glad he took the advice.

Very funny;

.....the PDP that rigged the elections and almost rigged out Buhari now complaining of being the one rigged out. Please let them go. it will just be a waste of time, because the elections in those states they are complaining about were free and fair. The results were going all over the social media as they were being concluded in individual polling booths.

Much unlike what happened in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Delta. Nobody saw the beginning, the middle; all we saw was the end.

He just don't want to stress them ni he knows the truth

Wise one from GEJ

The man is clever. I like him

This plot of land is for lease...



Contact 080#*#*#*#* for more info

Gej now get some senses now.

GOD BLESS GEJ

“At a point, Jonathan said ‘I don’t believe in post-election petition at tribunal because it distracts the incoming administration’.

As a victim of this, he knows best. Buhari took him to court In 2011, he was troubled,
Ignited killings, n boko started with furry, but this same good man doesn't want same on him.
This man respects buhari.
This is a case of leave vengeance for God.
Johna loves this country, he is a peace loving icon.
We will miss him.
Meanwhile, am still waiting for CHANGE.

Why bother go to the tribunal when hurricane Delta, and Rivers still haunt you?

This change no be small thing o.

Everybody is preaching peace.

From Jona to Dokubo to fayose to MEND to Tompolo.

Thank God for Nigeria.

Sai Baba

And his image both national and international keep soaring high...In one single swoop,he set a record in Nigeria that will be very hard to beat. Watch him win an international award in leadership, something his predecessors couldn't win. OBJ must be very furious now..

orobs93:
Jonathan tell them...sycophants

bloody sycophants I tell u

this guy is trying so so hard to buy favour from GMB. going to court would be. suicide considering the massive rigging in PDP states....Jonathan keep deceiving them with your fake statesmanship.

dis man is very weak, whether he lyks it or not, we will make buhari's tenure a living hell. PDP forever

*yawning*

Good

PDP fighting a lost battle. GEJ pls decamp to the APC ASAP.