President Goodluck Jonathan has said he would be standing for the 2015 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party with his deputy, Architect Namadi Sambo, as his running mate.
Jonathan, in an acceptance speech after his sole candidacy was ratified by delegates at the PDP Special National Convention in the wee hours of Thursday, said Sambo remains his choice for the election.
Not a few people had expected Jonathan was going to drop Sambo as his running mate for the 2015 election.
There have been a lot of permutations that Sambo, who was the Governor of Kaduna State before he emerged as Jonathan’s deputy after the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, was going to be dropped.
Apart from the ratification of Jonathan’s sole candidacy, the PDP National Convention also approved the emergence of Adamu Mu’azu, Wale Oladipo and Wole Adeyanju as National Chairman, National Secretary and National Auditor of the party respectively.
Speaking after delegates to the PDP National Convention had nominated him, the President promised to give his all to ensure that the living standard of Nigerians improved.
Jonathan said that his nomination as the PDP presidential candidate exemplified the party’s determination to ensure that democracy in Nigeria yielded the desired benefits to Nigerians.
He urged political parties in the country to rise above all impediments to project the country to a higher level.
He assured all PDP members that all complaints and grievances within the party would be amicably resolved.
According to him, the country’s fight against corruption is on course and will be won.
He said the government would ensure that no child lacked basic needs and that no woman died from child birth.
The President said the observance of human rights was the cornerstone of his administration, adding that no Nigerian would be persecuted for holding a contrary view.
He restated that Nigeria was undergoing some transformation being progressively enjoyed by the people, adding that many of the projects being showcased by those who defected from PDP were actually initiated by the party.
He enjoined the opposition to be honest in its campaigns and should be devoid of propaganda and half truth.
Jonathan got 2,812 votes to emerge as the party’s candidate for the 2015 presidential election.
Voting was still ongoing at the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress as at press time.
Jonathan announces Sambo as 2015 running mate
