Jonathan Declares Interest in Re-election

After months of speculations, President Goodluck Jonathan  Thursday signified his intention to seek for re-election in 2015. 

 The president made his intention known when he met the leadership of his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Presidential Villa. 

 The president was said to have intimated the PDP leadership that he would beat the deadline for the procurement of the presidential nomination form being sold at Wadata house, the party's secretariat. 

To ensure a smooth declaration of his intention to run, Jonathan had set up a committee to that effect. 

While November 7 and 15 had been fixed as the dates for his declaration, the committee to map out plans for the event is headed by  Dr. Haliru Bello. 

Although journalists were not formally briefed after the meeting, a dependable source who participated in the meeting disclosed on condition of anonymity that Jonathan had assured the party leadership that he would pick the party nomination form before the October 30th deadline set for the exercise by the ruling party. 

 The Declaration Committee chaired by the former PDP National Chairman and former Defence Minister from Kebbi state also has Sen. Ken Nnamani (Enugu) while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim (Ebonyi), would serve as the Secretary. 

 Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Prof. Rufa'i Ahmed Alkali (Gombe), Julius Imagwe - SSA - Youth (Edo), Dr. Baraka Sani (SSA -NSAP),Kano are to serve as members of the committee. 

Governors were also nominated to represent their zones on the board of the committee and those appointed include Governors Liyel Imoke, Cross River (South South), Theodore Orji, Abia (South East), Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo (South West), Dr. Mua'zu Babangida Aliyu Niger (North Central), Ibrahim Shema, Katsina (North West) and Ibrahim Dankwambo, Gombe (North East).

Details later