2015: NORTH KICKS, HEADS FOR COURT OVER JONATHAN

Despite taking control of the organs of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan still have hurdles to subdue in his re-election bid in 2015.

A pan-Northern group, the Arewa Youth Forum, AYF, yesterday declared that it would soon file a case in court to challenge the eligibility of President Jonathan to vie for the 2015 presidency, having been sworn in twice.

This was coming just as former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, backed the formation of the All Progressive Congress, APC, saying he had been vindicated by the political development.

The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, also condemned the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, over his support for the president.

The group described Tukur as a betrayer of the North, stressing that was why it kicked against his choice as the party’s national chairman. AYF National President, Alhaji Gambo Gunjugu, told our correspondent in Kaduna that the group would continue to fight for northern presidency in 2015.

He added that legal experts had been drafted to join case against President Jonathan’s legality to seek re-election. He said: “We are not surprised because from day one, we addressed a press conference against Tukur’s candidature as chairman of PDP because we realised that it was another conspiracy by President Jonathan against the North in 2015.

To us, Tukur is a betrayer of the North. “Already, President Jonathan’s case is in court over his qualification to seek reelection in 2015, but we the northern youths doubted the sincerity of the person who took the President to court because he might surrender any time.”

“So, we Northern youths just finished a meeting now over Bamanga Tukur’s strategy for Jonathan and we resolved that a team of legal experts should be put in place for us to file our own separate case against Jonathan eligibility to seek re-election in 2015 as he was already sworn in twice as president of this country.

We will continue to fight for presidency back to the North.” Also, the apex northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has condemned Tukur over his comment that President Jonathan is free to contest in 2015 elections.

ACF National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, told National Mirror in Kaduna that Tukur could not be a defender of President Jonathan’s reelection as matter on his qualification was in court of law for interpretation.

The ACF said: “Since the matter is for court to decide, Tukur cannot be a defender and at the same time the one to pass judgement.”

The forum had earlier called on President Jonathan to respect his singleterm agreement with the PDP governors since he had already been sworn in twice as President.

ACF said Jonathan must not swallow his honour and moral values by going against the 2011 accord. Supporting the megaparty, Babangida noted that the emergence of APC would provide credible opposition and offer alternative choice to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2015 elections.

Source: National Mirror