Some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are currently mounting pressure on ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to shelve his alleged ambition to contest the 2019 presidential election.


The party is likely to give its presidential ticket to the North even if Sen. Ahmed Makarfi or Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff wins the PDP leadership contest at the Supreme Court.



Some of the Party members said Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio, and some governors are being considered for Vice-President slot.


The battle in the party apart from the leadership case at the Supreme Court, is that when many party members want Jonathan to run for the presidency, others strongly believed that it will be difficult to sell his candidature to the majority of Nigerian voters.


A PDP source disclosed that the party wants to retain its presidential ticket to the north since PDP is still strong in South-South and in the South-East.



“Although we are awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court on the leadership of our party, we have gone far with our homework.



“A realistic option we have faced is the fact that to win in 2019, we have to retain our presidential ticket in the North. The PDP is still solid in the South-East and in the South-South.



“We have however come to appreciate that conceding the ticket to ex-President Jonathan might not work considering ethnic colouration which beclouded the last presidential election.


“The allegations raised against some key actors in Jonathan’s government, including ex-First Lady have made the choice of the ex-President a hard sell,” the source said.


The source added: “PDP leaders have subtly passed the message to Jonathan.



“We are however leaving the ticket open to the North. We anticipate that some defectors from APC might add more strength to our search for a candidate that can beat to the game.



“We want to try as much as possible to provide alternatives to APC. Of recent, ex-Governor Sule Lamido is the only leader who has come out with his presidential aspiration.



“Even when an attempt was made to enable the Forum of former Ministers to endorse Lamido, it was rejected.



The source listed the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Akpabio, and some governors (whose names were not revealed) as some of those being considered for the VP slot.




http://www.eyereport.com.ng/pressure-on-jonathan-not-to-contest-2019-election/#sthash.yyJQyLGO.dpuf

Jonathan wants to try again?

Buhari just got elected without sweat for second term then easily.

How credible is this news? GEJ can never contest for the position of the president. Besides i don't think he is power hungry like some "people"

eye report?


Just like the nation newspaper.

After Jonathan has wreck PDP, you think they will allow him to ever represent them again?