Jonathan may declare in October

Politicians, who are eying the Presidency in 2015, are putting finishing touches to declare their intention, The PUNCH has learnt.Among them are President Goodluck Jonathan; a former military Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwanso.According to the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, party primaries will start on October 2, 2014Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential primary, investigations by our correspondent showed that the President’s declaration is expected to come up at the end of this month or early in October.

Already, some governors, especially from the South-South, South-East and North-Central, are preparing for the declaration, which a presidency source said, would be “earth-shaking.”

One of the governors involved in the arrangement, told our correspondent that the date for the President’s declaration was being worked out.

He said it was likely that the declaration would not come before the declaration of those who are ready to contest the seat with the President either in his party, the PDP, or in the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress.

He said, “The preparation is ongoing. It will come either at the end of this month or early October.

“So, those who want to contest the ticket with him in either the PDP or the APC should get ready. The President and his team are ready.”

The source, however, said both the President and his team are expecting stiff opposition from the a North-East and North-West, where he said the candidature of the President was not favourably being received.

As part of the declaration plan, the Presidency ordered the screening of all the groups supporting the re-election of the President.

Also, supporters of Buhari are eagerly waiting for him to return to the country from his trip overseas this weekend and round off his consultations in preparatory to his declaration.

Buhari has contested for the position three times, but has failed to win.

A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Alhaji Umaru Dembo, who like Buhari, is a member of the APC, said the former head of state would definitely contest for the party’s sole ticket.

Also, a former governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change in Enugu State, Chief Osita Okechukwu, told our correspondent that Buhari would meet some notable national leaders of the APC next week in continuation of his ongoing consultation.

On his part, Abubakar is considering to declare his presidential ambition on Wednesday, September 24. As part of the preparations, sources close to his campaign office at Jabi, Abuja said several venues were being considered for the declaration.

Some of these venues include the Eagles Square, Sheraton Hotel, Hilton Hotel, Yar’Adua Centre and the National Stadium.

Atiku’s spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, refused to speak on the matter when contacted.

“I can to confirm or deny any date now. But what I can tell you is that the former Vice President will definitely contest,” he said.

Kwankwanso is said to have concluded arrangements to formally declare for the presidency as he is said to have nearly concluded his nationwide consultations which he embarked upon on his presidential ambition.

Already, posters of the governor have been pasted in strategic locations in many states with such inscriptions as ‘Kwankwaso for national assignment.’ Already, 34 members of the APC at the Kano House of Assembly have endorsed his ambition.