Party dismisses reports of rift, says it remains focused on 2015 campaigns
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed reports of a strained relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, describing the relationship between the two leaders as cordial and productive.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, stated this on Monday while reacting to reports suggesting that differences had emerged between the President and the PDP chairman ahead of the 2015 general elections.
In a statement, Metuh said the party remained impressed with Mu’azu’s leadership, which he claimed had strengthened the PDP’s support base and public standing in the build-up to the elections.
He described Mu’azu as one of the founding members of the PDP who had continued to contribute to the growth of the party through what he called a mature and responsible approach to political issues.
According to the party, Mu’azu had remained at the forefront of Jonathan’s presidential campaign and maintained an “excellent working relationship” with the President, as demonstrated during campaign rallies, stakeholder meetings and other engagements across the country.
The PDP also defended the National Chairman’s approach to the campaign, saying his decision to remain restrained in the face of what it described as provocations was consistent with the party’s commitment to unity, peace and national stability.
The statement further credited Mu’azu’s leadership with helping to stabilise the party and strengthen unity among its leaders and members at a critical period.
It also said the PDP chairman had played a significant role in mobilising the party’s structure behind Jonathan after the President emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.
“Also indisputable is his deft application of wealth of experience and far-reaching connections to galvanise the entire party structure in adopting President Goodluck Jonathan as our sole presidential candidate, a project to which he has remained unflinchingly committed,” the statement said.
The party explained that since the commencement of the campaigns, members of its National Working Committee had been involved in personal and group campaigns, strategic meetings and consultations with stakeholders across the states and geopolitical zones.
It said the activities were part of broader efforts to mobilise support for Jonathan and other PDP candidates ahead of the elections, while strengthening the party’s structures at the state, local government and ward levels.
The PDP alleged that reports suggesting a disagreement between Jonathan and Mu’azu were intended to create division within the party, distract its leadership and weaken its presidential campaign.
The party maintained that it remained united and focused on its campaign, insisting that media reports and political insinuations would not divert it from its objective ahead of the 2015 elections.
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