Jonathan can run in 2011, NLC says

Written by Daily Trust Wednesday, 26 May 2010

SharePresident Goodluck Jonathan has the right to run for the presidency in 2011 just like every other Nigerian but he must conduct credible elections, the Nigeria Labour Congress has said.

NLC President Comrade Abdulwahed Omar said yesterday in Abuja during a parley to “Celebrate the Success of Nigeria Working Peoples’ Push for Removal of Maurice Iwu as INEC Chair” that there is nothing in Nigerian Constitution and the NLC laws that say Jonathan cannot run for the presidency.

The parley was jointly organized by the Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE) and the NLC with the coordinating committee on electoral reform of the civil society organisations (CSOs).

Comrade Omar said that Jonathan contesting or not is not the issue, but that he must ensure that the electoral process is credible and that the Uwais recommendations must be fully implemented.

“Though Congress may not wish to also dictate to Mr President the direction he should take in terms of his personal political ambition, we would state unequivocally that it would be in his greater personal interest and integrity to prioritise the conduct of a free, fair, just and credible election,” Omar said.

But General Secretary of the ACE Emma Ezeazu said President Jonathan should not contest, advising Jonathan to concentrate on fixing the many problems facing the country especially the electoral reform and electricity generation.