CAMPAIGNS for the 2015 elections are yet to open, but parties seem not to be taking chances.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has engaged prominent international political consultants AKPD Message and Media to boost its electoral chances.
President Goodluck Jonathan and governors of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors are also getting set. They met on Monday night behind closed-door to finetune strategies for zonal rallies to receive defectors and woo new members to the party.In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the Chicago, U.S.-based firm is best known for its lead role in President Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012.
The party explained that the firm has also worked with key Democratic party candidates throughout the U.S. and has a strong reputation for supporting leading populist movements across the globe.
“We have been working closely with AKPD Message and Media over the past few months and we shall leverage on the firm’s skill, experience and expertise throughout the upcoming campaign cycle,” APC said.
“As a party destined to bring change and succour to the long suffering people of Nigeria, the APC is proud and excited to work with one of the foremost exponents of change in the world, especially with their track record of success in political climates akin to ours, notably in Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana. With this strategic partnership, the process of change in Nigeria has already begun and it can’t be stopped,” the party concluded.
Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Abia State Governor Theodore Orji said it was also part of regular meetings with the President to review other activities of the party.
According to him, the ongoing consultations between President Jonathan and traditional rulers and other interest groups across the country are expected.
But he declined to confirm when exactly the President would declare his ambition to contest the 2015 presidential election.
Orji said: “The meeting was in compliance with what the President promised us, that he will be meeting regularly with PDP governors. He met with us today and we reviewed party activities, especially the rallies that we are going to hold in the states and zonal levels.”
“The rallies are meant to sensitize people. In Owerri, we are going to receive some people who are coming back to the party. In other states where people are coming back to the party, they will be received formally. We discussed party affairs.”
On the President’s yet to be declared ambition, he said: “It is the President that knows when to declare. This consultation is what a President should do. A President should consult with his subjects, that is what he is doing. Declaration is not the issue now.”
“The President will declare when he wants to; he will tell you if he wants to run or not. As of now, what he is doing is to interact with stakeholders and that is the function of the President, to meet with his people,” Orji added.
The President recently met with the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero; Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu and Oba Babatunde Akran of Badagry.
At the meeting were Vice President Namadi Sambo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim; PDP Chairman Ahmadu Muazu and his Deputy, Uche Secondus.
Governors at the meeting included Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Ibrahim Shehu Shema (Katsina), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Theodore Orji (Abia), Mukhtar Ramallan Yero (Kaduna), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Garba Umar (Taraba), Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Saidu Nasamu Dakingari (Kebbi) and Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta),
The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, John Jonah and that of Adamawa, Bala James Ngilari were also in attendance.
Source: The Nation
