The Peoples Democratic Party has given
conditions under which it said its presidential candidate will engage in
a debate with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives
Congress.
The National Publicity Secretary of the
party, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated this while briefing journalists in
Abuja on Tuesday on the plan for the party’s convention, which holds on
Wednesday (today) and Thursday.
The convention holds at the Eagles Square, Abuja.
He said that President Goodluck Jonathan
would be ready to debate with any presidential candidate, but insisted
that such a debate must be based on issues.
He said, “We will be willing to debate.
We want it, we ask for it because we want Nigerians to know who is the
best to lead this country. But let us elevate the conduct of this
election. We will base it (the debate) on who is the best for this
country in terms of unity of this nation, who is best to stabilise our
polity and who is best to lead us to prosperity.
“On those three and other issues we will debate with whoever is the candidate of the APC.”
He insisted that the party was convinced
that Jonathan would win the presidential election, adding that the duo
of a former Head of State, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and a
former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, put together would not defeat the
President.
Metuh described the President as a good product, who he said, possessed unquestionable character.
The spokesperson for the ruling party
said, “We have a very good product to sell to Nigerians. GEJ 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 polls.
“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 candidate with their
collective credentials and followership to face our President, Goodluck
Jonathan.
“For us in the PDP, we are certain that
with the grassroots 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.
“The PDP is rest assured that we have a
very good product to sell to Nigerians. We are confident that President
Jonathan, as our candidate, is primed to win the 2015 presidential
election based on his popularity deriving from his forthrightness,
humility and steadfastness to the Nigerian project coupled with his
record of verifiable achievements.”
On the convention, Metuh said that 3,070
delegates had been accredited to endorse the candidature of President
Jonathan even though he remains the sole candidate of the party.
The endorsement, he said, was in line
with the Electoral Act and the electoral guidelines released by the
Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said the first day of the convention
would be used to ratify the selection of the Acting National Chairman of
the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu; the Acting National Secretary, Prof.
Wale Oladipo; and the Acting National Auditor, Wale Adeyanju.
He said the party was not aware of the
presidential aspiration of Prof. Akasoba Duke Abiola, adding that the
aspirant would likely be coming to the convention ground as a delegate.
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