The ruling party, however, mocked the APC, boasting that even if the opposition fielded two presidential candidates, Jonathan would
defeat them.
Speaking at a pre-national convention press briefing, chairman of the publicity committee for the national convention, Olisa Metuh, declared that today’s convention will elect President Jonathan as sole candidate of the party in consonance with the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.
Metuh disclosed that 3073 delegates will vote at the convention billed to hold in Abuja.
The spokesman said once the emergence of its candidate, his party would task the opposition to issue based campaigns, based on manifesto and ideology.
“We don’t expect that the campaigns will be based on lies and name calling but on Ideas”, he said.
“We have a very good product to sell to Nigerians. President Goodluck Jonathan will win the 2015 presidential poll based on his popularity. We are today sending notice to the opposition party, the APC to expect a crushing defeat at the poll.
“In view of our confidence, preparedness and the popularity of our candidate, we declare and urge the APC to put forward its two frontline aspirants in one pot, namely: Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku as joint presidential candidates with their collective credentials and followership to face our president, Goodluck Jonathan.
“For us in the PDP, we are certain that with the grassroot support and love we enjoy from Nigerians across board, President Goodluck jonathan will secure an emphatic victory against any presidential candidate of the APC or all the candidates put together as one.
“Let us elevate the conduct of this election. We will base it on who is best for this country in terms of unity of this nation, who is best to stabilise our public policy, who is best to lead us to prosperity.
“On those three and other issues we will debate whoever is the candidate of APC. We will debate APC candidate on issues of unity, stability and peace of the nation”, he stated.
On the ratification of President Goodluck Jonathan’s sole candidature he said “We know he is the sole candidate but still have to go through the election as provided by the electoral act and constitution of the party.”
He added that by the commencement of the convention, a notice had been served to the opposition APC to expect a crushing defeat at the polls.
Continuing he said, “With President Jonathan, our nation will continue in the path of unity, stability and prosperity, which has been the driving force and inspiration of our government in delivering our mandate in the last three years. This trinity of unity, stability and prosperity has made him the most suitable President for our great nation in these present times.
“Never in the history of our nation have we witnessed the insurgency that is ravaging parts of our country. The insurgency is hitting at the heart of our national unity and cohesion.
“Instead of reacting in ways that could damage the trust and love of Nigerians for one another, the President has acted more on the side of caution by ensuring that actions to defeat terrorism are carefully thought-out and pursued.”
PDP added that following Jonathan’s demonstrated commitment to credible, free and fair elections, the votes of the electorate now count as exemplified in the Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections.
“The president has been able to stabilize the polity by his pan Nigerian outlook and approach to governance. The stability of our nation has strengthened national unity. Today, he has been able to give every geo-political zone a sense of belonging in terms of infrastructure development, economic and human capital empowerment.
“Besides, the visible and concrete infrastructure development in our nation, President Jonathan has been able to demonstrate a deep sense of equanimity in providing leadership, in spite of the incendiary remarks by some opposition leaders.
“Amidst the recessions and economic downturn in most nations of the world, our economy has been stabilized, our unity preserved and our democracy enhanced.
“They added that under President Jonathan, there has been remarkable progress and landmark developments in all sectors of the Nigerian public life, through his Transformation Agenda.
“The administration has revived the comatose railway transportation with some of the rail lines already in operation. Lagos-Kano is already in operation with new coaches providing improved services.
“Not only have the nation’s highways improved, ongoing works can be seen in almost all parts of the country. When the Jonathan administration came on board, only 5,000 out of the 35,000 kilometers of federal roads were motorable.
“Today, the Jonathan government has rehabilitated and reconstructed 20,000 additional kilometers. The remaining 10,000 kilometers will be completed in the next three years while other new road projects will be executed.”
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