Why I support senators on order of elections –Jonathan

 

Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has backed the National Assembly on its recent re-ordering of the 2019 general elections as contained in an amendment to the Electoral Act.

The National Assembly Conference Committee on Electoral Act (amendment) Bill had on Tuesday adopted a re-ordered sequence of the 2019 elections, which now puts the presidential election last in the timetable.

The sequence of the polls now has the National Assembly elections coming first, followed by governorship and state House of Assembly polls. The presidential tussle comes last as against what held sway in the last elections.

But a few senators, especially from the APC controlled states kicked against the amendment accusing the ‘proponents’ of targeting the president’s chances at the polls.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ike Abonyi, quoted Jonathan as supporting the re-ordering of the election timetable while receiving the PDP chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus, who led members of the National Working Committee, NWC, on a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Jonathan Foundation in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

According to the statement, Jonathan 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,” Jonathan said.

Jonathan, however, charged his party, the PDP, to support the National Assembly for the patriotic act as he added that he envisaged a time “when presidential election will be conducted differently from the others.”

He also commended the newly elected 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’’.

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