For the first time in the history of the ruling party in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has adopted its sitting president as sole candidate ahead of a general election.
Recall that former vice-president; Alex Ekwueme lost the party presidential convention to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at the convention held in Jos ahead of 1999 general elections.
Obasanjo was returned as presidential candidate in 2003 having defeated the late governor of Kano State, Abubakar Rimi. Also, the late Umaru Yar’Adua defeated the incumbent Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha to emerge the party’s candidate in December 2006 at the convention held at Eagles Square, Abuja.
At the 66th NEC meeting of the party yesterday in Abuja, leaders of the party adopted President Jonathan as the PDP candidate for the 2015 presidential election.
Niger State Governor and Chairman, Northern States Governors’ Forum, Babangida Aliyu set the ball rolling when he presented the communique of the party’s governors taken on Wednesday night at Akwa Ibom State Governor’s Lodge,  adopting Dr Jonathan as sole presidential  candidate.
Governor Aliyu’s mild drama asking his Jigawa counterpart, Sule Lamido to stand up for recognition before presenting the stance of the party governors to the NEC elicited laughter and banters.
Aliyu had said: “The PDP governors have decided to endorse Mr. President as sole candidate.
“It was taken without reservations, it was unanimous. We shall go into this election as a united front, to win more states than we have now. We have agreed to win back our mandate in Kano, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kwara and Rivers states.”
Former deputy national chairman (South-West) of the party, Shuiab Oyedokun, equally presented the position of another strategic organ of the party, the Board of Trustees (BoT) adopting Dr. Jonathan as sole candidate.
Checks revealed that Akwa-Ibom State Governor and chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Godswill Akpabio, had after the meeting of the governors on Wednesday, presented their communique to the Board of Trustees, which also met same day.
Senate President and chairman of the National Assembly Caucus, David Mark spoke in similar vein as he noted that the decision taken by the governors and supported by the BoT was laudable, as it would outlive the party.
The motion for adoption by the NEC was moved by former national chairman of the party, Dr. Haliru Bello and seconded by former governor of Anambra State in the Second Republic, Chief Jim Nwabodo.
In his opening remarks, an elated national chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu declared that “with the endorsement today, President Jonathan will be our sole candidate.”
Addressing the party chieftains, President Jonathan, who thanked the governors, members of caucus of the party and the Board of Trustees, which initiated his adoption said he was overwhelmed by their support.
“Events of yesterday (Wednesday) and what has happened today, accepting me as sole candidate has humbled me.  I am totally overwhelmed by this action initiated by our governors. Let me particularly thank NEC, because if it doesn’t adopt you, you are on your own.”
Briefing State House correspondents, ‎earlier after the BoT meeting, Prof Jerry Gana alongside the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and PDP BoT Secretary, Walid Jibril, at the end of the meeting, noted that the endorsement of the president as PDP’s sole candidate for the 2015 presidential race was unanimously done by members of the Board with a standing ovation. This was after the chairman of the PDP Governor’s Forum and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, briefed them that PDP governors had unanimously endorsed Jonathan as the party’s sole candidate for 2015.

2015: PDP NEC, BoT adopt Jonathan as sole presidential candidate