Less than 24 hours after an ultimatum from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to him and others to purchase nomination forms within seven days, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday swiftly moved to formalise his re-election process with the constitution of a declaration committee.
The declaration, Vanguard learnt Thursday has been tentatively scheduled for between the 7th and 15th November, 2014.
A highly placed presidency source disclosed yesterday that the president would also pick the nomination form before the expiration of the one week deadline given by the PDP to all aspirants to various offices.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter said the declaration committee, which is to be headed by erstwhile national chairman of the PDP, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed is composed of representatives of governors, the National Assembly and other political stakeholders. The committee is to choose a convenient date for the president to make a formal declaration.
Before the decision was arrived at, the president met with some prominent members of the party in and outside of government in the Presidential Villa yesterday where he told them that following his adoption by the governors of the PDP, the National Working Committee and the Board of Trustees of the party, he has accepted to heed their call to contest in the 2015 election.
Among those at the meeting Vanguard learnt were the national chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu, the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, the president of the Senate, Senator David Mark and other close aides of the president.
“President Jonathan met with key party members where he thanked them for giving him the opportunity of first refusal. He thanked them for adopting him as the candidate of the party and formally informed them that he has accepted to run and would be purchasing the nomination form before the expiration of the one week deadline given by the PDP for all its aspirants to pick nomination forms within one week,” the source said.
According to the official, in order to ensure a smooth formal declaration ceremony, the president has constituted a committee that would prepare the logistics for his formal declaration which will be between the 7th and 15th of November.
Similarly, it was gathered that the president has also constituted a fund raising committee for the campaign proper, which is headed by former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana.
Other members of the fund raising committee have, however, not been named yet.
Members of the Declaration Committee include: Dr. Bello Halliru Mohammed (Chairman) from Kebbi, Sen. Ken Namani (Deputy Chairman), Enugu, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim (Secretary), Ebonyi, Prof. Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali (member), Gombe, Julius Imagwe – SSA – Youth (member), Edo, Dr. Baraka Sani (SSA -NSAP) – Kano, (member).
Governors representing the six geographical zones include; 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).
Representatives of the National Assembly are Sen. Hosea Agboola , (Oyo), Sen. Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Rep. Bitrus Kaze (Plateau) and Rep. Salmas Badru (Ogun).
Members representing the Federal Executive Council include; Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Dieziani Allison-Madueke (Bayelsa), Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan (Osun), Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina (Adamawa), Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).
Representatives of the PDP in the committee include: Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus (Rivers), Chairman, PDP Benue State, Chief Emmanuel Agbo, (Benue) National Women Leader, Kema Chikwe (Imo) and North West Zonal Chairman, Amb. Ibrahim Kazaure (Jigawa).
Other members are Sen. Stella Omu (Delta), Sen. Walid Jibirn (BOT Secretary, (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Bunu (Borno), Rev. Jolly Nyame (Taraba), Sen. Aniette Okon (Akwa Ibom), Peter Obi (Anambra), Mrs. Remi Adiuku Bakare (Lagos), and Gen. A. B. Mamman (PDP National Youth Leader) – FCT.
Others appointed to the committee at the discretion of the president were Barr. Halima Alfa (Kogi), Nigeria Ambassador to Netherland, Dr. (Mrs.) Nimota Nihinlola Akanbi (Kwara), FCT ALGON Chairman, Hon. Micah Yohanna Jiba (FCT) and Hon. Sam Ikon (Akwa Ibom).
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