The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the ruling by the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court that President Goodluck Jonathan is constitutionally free to contest the 2015 Presidential election as yet another victory for the nation’s democracy.
The party also noted that the ruling has freed the nation from the shackles of intimidation and harassment by some desperate elements seeking to impose themselves on Nigerians, adding that the judiciary has restated the freedom and right of every Nigerian to seek for any office under the constitution.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement yesterday said the judgment has laid to rest debates on whether or not the President is constitutionally eligible to contest the 2015 election adding that it now depends on the party and Nigerians to decide when the time comes.
“The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) applauds the ruling by the FCT High Court that President Goodluck Jonathan, as a Nigerian, has the constitutionally guaranteed right to seek re-election in 2015.
“This landmark ruling is yet another victory to the nation’s democracy. It has laid to rest the unnecessary debate on whether or not the President is constitutionally eligible to seek re-election in 2015.
“The court held that President Jonathan is in his first term, which commenced on the 29th of May, 2011 and thus is free to seek a second term in office in the 2015 general election under the platform of the PDP or any other political party.
“The import of this judgment is that it is now left for the PDP as party and Nigerians to decide, through legitimate processes, whether or not to return President Jonathan to the Presidency in 2015 if he indicates interest.
“With the ruling, it is now left for the President, the PDP and the people to decide and not for some people to try to stop others from exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights through intimidations and harassment”, the party said.
The PDP urged Nigerians to continue to be law abiding and resist all attempts by desperate politicians to truncate the system through the distortion of the facts of the law.
It said however assured that it will continue to focus on the welfare of Nigerians in line with the Transformation Agenda of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led PDP administration.