2011 Elections: PDP delegates endorse Jonathan

Democratic Party national delegates in the North-West endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for the party’s presidential ticket, their counterparts from the South-West have also declared their unalloyed support for the President.

The 580 delegates drawn from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states took the decision at a meeting with the President at the Mapo Hall in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Sunday.

President Goodluck Jonathan Waving at supporters.

A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the South-West Coordinator of the Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Committee, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, said, “All the delegates of the party at the meeting unanimously, willingly and unequivocally resolved to support and vote en-bloc for President Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo at the primaries of the party slated for January 13, 2011.”

President Goodluck Jonathan.

Earlier, Jonathan had described the South-West as a ‘very crucial’ zone in the realisation of his quest for the party’s presidential ticket. He also urged leaders of the party in the zone to work hard to ensure victory for the party in the governorship election in Lagos State. He admitted that winning Lagos would be a difficult task and advised the leaders of the party in the zone to take the assignment seriously.

Jonathan also expressed regrets on the loss of Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states to opposition parties at the Court of Appeal but stated that efforts were being made to reverse the situation.

President Goodluck Jonathan At a UN summit.

He said, “We appreciate the challenges the court judgments imposed on the people of the region and we have held several meetings to address the issue. We are touched by the loss of these states and we are committed. We will work harder to ensure that the states are recovered from the rival parties at the next election.”

Daniel, in his opening remarks, assured the President that the zone would not compromise in delivering the votes of its delegates at the party’s presidential primaries. According to Daniel, Oyo State has 153 delegates, while Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos have 108, 123, 80, 60 and 37 respectively.

Earlier, the host governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, asked the party’s chieftains not to be weighed down by the political developments in the three South-West states. At the meeting, the motion for the South-West delegates to endorse the President was moved by the senator representing Ife/Ijesa District, Iyiola Omisore, and seconded by the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr. Moroof Atilola.

All chieftains of the party who have been engaged in a running battle with Alao-Akala did not attend the parley. They include the Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin; Senator Lekan Balogun, Elder Wole Oyelese, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Ayo Adeseun.

The President had before the meeting paid a courtesy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana, Odugade I, where he sought royal blessings for his ambition.
[source:punchnews]