Jonathan won’t interfere in Adamawa guber election, PDP assures

By Lawrence Olaoye

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday assured the people that President Goodluck Jonathan harbors no special interest in who emerges its flagbearer for the October 11th governorship bye election in Adamawa state.

This is coming as there are speculations that the Presidency may have anointed one of the contests even as it was rumoured that Jonatahn had been placed under undue pressure to back the state Acting Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri.

But addressing newsmen after a meeting of the members of the PDP National Working Committee with Jonathan yesterday, the party spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the issue of party’s candidate selection in Adamawa is the sole responsibility of the party.

He however disclosed that the meeting with the President was in furtherance of its desire to foster harmony among its members, revealing that a committee had been established to enhance interface among members of the PDP in the executive and the legislature.

Metuh said: “There was a meeting between Federal Executive Council (FEC) members, the NWC members and the leadership of the National Assembly PDP caucus.

“The meeting discussed a lot of issues, the most important issue being the interface between the executive, the legislature and the party with a view to promoting and publicizing the ideals of the achievements of the transformation agenda of the government and to ensure that we continue to gain the confidence of Nigerians.

“Being the only party that promotes the unity and progress of Nigeria, that covers all national interest, we want to ensure that our people will continue to have faith in the party.

“The meeting set up a small committee to continue to dialogue and promote these ideals.”

On whether the October Adamawa governorship by-election was discussed at the meeting, he said it was not discussed as the matter was an exclusive preserve of the NWC, noting that the committee set up yesterday was alien to the constitution of the party to discuss such matters.

Asked if ministers with political ambitions had been advised to resign, Metuh also said the issue was not discussed, explaining, “We have not brought out our guidelines. You cannot tell people to resign except when the guidelines are out. So, when the guidelines come out then we can now discuss such issues.”

He said the guidelines would “very soon” come out, adding that the party was still waiting for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to give the necessary direction.

“You know we have a regulatory body that takes care of such issues. We have INEC and we are waiting. We will not want to run afoul of the law. Very soon, we will bring out our guidelines,” he assured.