3,070 PDP delegates to endorse Jonathan on Thursday

According to News reaching us from Punch Website..

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.