LAGOS — Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has thrown his weight behind former President Goodluck Jonathan, declaring him “eminently qualified” to re-contest for the nation’s highest office under the PDP platform.
Click Here to Join Our Whatsapp Channel
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Vanguard on Wednesday, Chief George said Jonathan remains one of the most marketable candidates due to his governance track record and economic performance while in office.
“He is very qualified because he did not leave the party. The more the merrier,” George said. “All those who say they want to contest should wait till 2035. He is the easiest to sell because he has a track record, especially the economic indices Nigeria witnessed during his tenure.”
Addressing constitutional concerns regarding Jonathan’s eligibility, given that he has been sworn in twice, George dismissed any legal impediment, citing historical context.
“It cannot [disqualify him] because he was sworn in when Umar Yar’Adua died to continue his tenure, and it was because of the Doctrine of Necessity,” he explained. “He did not contest any election; he was sworn in to complete Yar’Adua’s tenure, who died while in office.”
Jonathan first assumed office in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later won the 2011 presidential election. His potential return to the political stage continues to stir debate within the party and across the country.
