Chidi Samuel || A former president, Goodluck Jonathan, on Friday threw his weight behind the recent re-ordering of the 2019 general elections as contained in an amendment to the Electoral Act by the National Assembly.
Ike Abonyi, the special adviser to the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Uche Secondus, in a statement said the former President voiced his support for the amendment while receiving the PDP chairman, who led members of the National Working Committee, NWC, on a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Jonathan Foundation in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The former President was quoted to have said, “what the National Assembly did would help in the election of quality persons into various positions.”
“Holding presidential election first will affect the quality of persons that will emerge in other polls because of the bandwagon effect.
“The ruling party, the APC should see it from national and patriotic interests since laws are not meant for persons in power at a particular time,” Mr. Jonathan reportedly said.
He, therefore, urged the PDP, to support the National Assembly for the patriotic act as he added that he envisaged a time “when the presidential election will be conducted differently from the others.”
Former President Jonathan also commended the Secondus led NWC of the PDP for bringing back confidence in the party pointing out that those who left will soon return.
“I believe that PDP will return to power in 2019 if we continue to build confidence especially as the ruling party has failed to meet up their promises and give hope to the people.
“Propaganda may help you win an election but can’t help you govern and that is what APC has seen in the last 32 months,” the ex-president reportedly said.