“Nine Presidential Hopefuls May Step Down For Jonathan” – Group Alleges

A group, the National Unity Group (NUG), has predicted that nine presidential candidates in the Feb. 14 presidential election may step down for President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). National Secretary of the group, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, told newsmen in Abuja, on Saturday, that it had been meeting with the parties on the need for them to support Jonathan.

According to Ojougboh who did not mention the candidates and their parties, though consultations would continue on Feb. 1, the discussions so far had been fruitful. He said that the PDP presidential campaign was satisfactorily progressing in the northern part of the country.

He urged the citizenry not to feel intimidated but to perform their civic responsibility of voting on election days.
“We are counting on all Nigerians, northerners especially, that they should not be intimidated, they should go out and vote massively for Mr President.

“For this country to remain united and for the progress we are experiencing now to continue, there is the need for all to cooperate with Mr President and vote massively for the PDP,’’ he said.

Sen. Chris Ukpabi, who also spoke, said the group, having critically examined President Jonathan’s score cards in all sectors of the economy, was convinced that he was the right president for the country.

He called on all Nigerians to support his re-election bid to enable him continue with his good works.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that also present at the briefing were Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, a former governor of old Anambra, Sen. Oserheimen Osunbor, former governor of Edo, among others