President Jonathan formally declares second term bid

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday formally declared that he will seek a second term of office at next year’s general election.


“After seeking the face of God and quite reflection with my Family... I, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, have accepted to present myself on the platform of the PDP,” he told supporters of his Peoples Democratic Party at a mass rally in Abuja.

The president also recounted how he, the Governors of Lagos and Rivers, and Nigerians United to fight Ebola. He said he declared and called for national action when Ebola came to Nigeria and the cooperation of all Nigerians led to the successful stoppage of the disease. "Just as we stopped Ebola, we are on our way to eradicating Polio in Nigeria" " I promise that I will not handover Polio to anyone".

The president also thanked Nigerians and party members for the support and also called for a minute of silence for the students who were killed in a suicide bomb attack on students of Government Science Secondary School, in Potiskum.

But just before the crowd stood for the silence, the president declared, "may their souls rest in peace," and the crowd sat back.

The president also admitted that terrorism is a challenge and promises to bring back the Chibok Schoolgirls who were taken hostage in April.

President Jonathan also laanched a new slogan, “Nigeria first, Nigeria Always, let’s do it together,” which will signpost his campaign for the presidential election.

The new slogan, besides signalling his decision and determination to the seek the mandate of Nigerians to serve for another four years, is projected to assure Nigerians of all segments that they rank first in the policy thrusts of his administration.

The national executive committee (NEC) of the party had, in September this year, roundly adopted President Jonathan as the sole candidate of the party by way of granting him the right of first refusal to its presidential ticket.

The endorsement by the NEC was preceded by series of endorsements from other organs of the part, including the PDP Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party and the national caucus.

Members of the party in the national assembly had also pledged their unrivalled support to his emergence as the sole candidate of the party.

Jonathan has been head of state of Africa’s most populous nation, leading economy and top oil producer since 2010, when he took over following the death of president Umara Yar’Adua, winning elections in 2011.