Following the recent sole adoption of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as the presidential candidate of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of 2015 general elections, there have been discontented voices arising. The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), had at its last meeting picked President Jonathan as its candidate, noting that its presidential convention slated for December, is going to be a mere formality to ratify him.
To justify the position taken by the party yesterday in Abuja, Presidential Adviser on Political Matters, Prof Ahmed Rufai Alkali, said the NEC’s decision was not strange to democracy as it would strengthen the party ahead of the general elections.
Alkali noted that with the laudable initiative of the party leaders, precious time that would be used to placate aggrieved members would now be deployed to campaigns for the polls.
He claimed that all political parties at critical times deploy the consensus option, most especially when the need arises for them to stay afloat.
He said: “Looking critically at the turn of events in PDP, it is trite to conjecture that the party, considering all critical elements, has succeeded in demonstrating strength, unity and determination to make the difference this time around while staving off untoward possibilities.
“We should not forget that PDP having been in power since 1999, remains the most experienced, dependable, consistent and strongest with spread in all nooks and crannies of the country.
“If it deploys such experience in putting its house in order so as to excel in the coming general elections, the rest of Nigeria should rather applaud its approach and tactics in politics.
“Moreover, there has not been any complaint in any quarter from within on the good option the PDP had taken,” Alkali said.
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