Jonathan denies establishing committee for second term bid

President Goodluck Jonathan has described a media report insinuating that he had empaneled a 21-member committee for his second term bid in 2015 as “totally untrue and without any basis in reality.”

A newspaper had on Monday reported that the President’s aides and associates have set up a 21-member committee to advise him on the viability of his entry into the presidential contest in 2015.

But Jonathan, in a statement by his spokesman, Reuben Abati, said he had not yet taken a decision on whether or not he will seek re-election in 2015 and has therefore not mandated any individual, committee or organisation to start working on his behalf for the 2015 elections.

He also denied endorsing any person for any political office in the coming election.

“For the benefit of the unwary, the Presidency emphatically states that President Jonathan has not endorsed any candidate for any position whatsoever ahead of the 2015 general elections neither has he commissioned persons to start campaigns for his own candidature,” the statement read.