2011: Saraki, 27 PDP Govs. Adopt Jonathan as Consensus Candidate
News Dec 16, 2010

By Daniel Idonor
IN what can best be described as the outcome of a mock primaries of the People Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Primary election, a formidable pack of 28 governors, led by Chairman, Governors Forum, Dr Bukola Saraki, yesterday signed a resolution endorsing President Goodluck Jonathan, as PDP consensus candidate for next years elections.

The development followed two weeks of sleepless nights driven by highest level politicking, through horse trading and palpable intrigues between the President and the governors on one side, the President and PDP lawmakers, on another side and the President and the PDP other stakeholders on the other side.

From the popular “House 7″ now codenamed “Aso Rock Political shrine” to major state capitals and geo-political zones, the President and his men were able to persuade stakeholders, which eventually resulted in the endorsment.

Vanguard was told that the action of the governors is an indication of the series of similar exercise to unfold in the coming weeks, which might make the touted primaries unnecessary, in the first place.

Besides the series of both local and foreign engagements which were either moved forward or put-off, President Goodluck Jonathan had been seen more often attending several political meetings with either the governors or other stakeholders of the PDP.