2015: OF COURSE I CAN RUN

President Goodluck Jonathan’s political future seems to be getting clear. Despite opposition from certain quarters, Jonathan would not shy away from contesting in the 2015 election, as allowed in the Constitution.
 

According to him, with the political situation of Nigeria, it is better for him to spend nine years in office than to spend less than the eight years stipulated in the 1999 Constitution.
Jonathan spoke through his lawyer, Ade Okeya-Inneh (SAN), in a counter-affidavit filed to a suit by Henry Amadi, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), who is seeking to stop him from contesting in the election.


In the suit before a Federal High Court, Abuja, Amadi is contending that Jonathan can no longer contest in 2015 because by so doing he would be spending more than the maximum two terms of four years stipulated by the 1999 constitution.
The suit is similar to another one filed by a chieftain of the PDP, Mr Cyriacus Njoku, on March 20 before an Abuja High Court urging the court to state whether Jonathan can run or not.
Judgment in that suit is pending before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi.
In the present suit, the respondents are Jonathan and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The plaintiff is pleading with the court to direct INEC not to accept Jonathan’s nomination as candidate of the PDP for 2015 because the oath of allegiance and oath of office he would take, if he wins, will violate the two oaths of allegiance and office stipulated by the 1999 Constitution.