President Goodluck Jonathan may have prevailed on the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to challenge
President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in
last Saturday’s election.

Instead of planning a case for the Presidential Election
Petitions Tribunal, the Presidency will raise a Transition
Committee on Tuesday, a source told The Nation
yesterday.

Vice President-elect Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is likely to head
the All Progressives Congress (APC) team which will join
the committee ahead of the May 29 transition.
Ministers have started preparing their handover notes,
it was also learnt.

It was gathered that although some PDP stalwarts
wanted Buhari’s victory challenged at the tribunal, the
President thought otherwise.

The party stalwarts, it was said, believe that some
irregularities in some states are strong enough to
upturn the final results of the election, which was
hailed at home and abroad as substantially credible.
Jonathan, it was learnt, said it made no sense —
contesting Buhari’s victory— after he had conceded
defeat.

It was learnt that the PDP leaders referred to the
electoral scenario in Ekiti where the All Progressives
Congress(APC) went to tribunal despite the acceptance
of defeat by ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The President, however, stood his ground that he would
rather stand by his statesmanship attitude than going to
tribunal.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The President
has prevailed on PDP to drop plans to go to tribunal
against Buhari. He said he wants his word to be his
bond, having been applauded by the international
community.

“At a point, Jonathan said ‘I don’t believe in post-
election petition at tribunal because it distracts the
incoming administration’

“He also said Nigeria must emulate other nations where
once the presidential poll is lost and won, the new
government must not be distracted with election
petitions.

“He told party leaders that he was not interested in
going to the tribunal. It is now left for PDP leaders to
heed his advice.

“So as at Thursday, the government’s position is that
the PDP should not go to tribunal.”

Stating the PDP’s position on the elections in a
statement yesterday, Chairman Adamu Mu’azu, said:
“We have received reports of serious irregularities that
characterized the conduct of the election and we shall
channel our protests to the appropriate quarters in line
with our profound respect for the rule of law and
democratic ethos.”

He did not say whether the party would go to the
tribunal but added: “What is paramount to us is the
survival of our democracy, the unity, peace and
progress of our dear nation and the happiness of all our
people. Nigeria is bigger than any political party,
individual or group and her overall interest must be our
priority at all times.”

The President in 2010 at the 15th summit of the African
Union (AU) in Kampala, Uganda described post-election
litigation as a major distraction to governance.
Jonathan said: “It is inconvenient to already be in office
and be thinking about election litigation.

“The essence of the immunity clause in the constitution
is that if a president or a governor takes an oath of
office, he should sit down and concentrate on the job
and when he leaves office, he could be prosecuted for
any offence.

“But because of the way we conduct our elections, the
president who sits in office is still battling and being
distracted with election issues, and it affects us.”
The transition committee is likely to be constituted next
week.

Another source added: “The Presidency is working on a
seamless transition from Jonathan’s administration to
Buhari’s. The details are being worked out.”

“I think by next week, the picture of the transition
committee will emerge. The government is working
early on the transition because it involves a lot of work.

“The APC team will have to collaborate with the
committee and ask questions if there are grey areas.”
Meanwhile, Ministers have started compiling their
handover notes, which will be part of the integral
aspect of the report of the transition committee.

EroticAngelina:
I love vhis man. so humble.

garrix8:


Only those who don't know him think he is humble. He is a Nebuchadnezzar. He's only doing all of these to save face and get a soft landing.

Jonadunce is as evil as can be.

garrix8:


Only those who don't know him think he is humble. He is a Nebuchadnezzar. He's only doing all of these to save face and get a soft landing.

Jonadunce is as evil as can be.

garrix8:


Only those who don't know him think he is humble. He is a Nebuchadnezzar. He's only doing all of these to save face and get a soft landing.

Jonadunce is as evil as can be.

garrix8:


Only those who don't know him think he is humble. He is a Nebuchadnezzar. He's only doing all of these to save face and get a soft landing.

Jonadunce is as evil as can be.

garrix8:


Only those who don't know him think he is humble. He is a Nebuchadnezzar. He's only doing all of these to save face and get a soft landing.

Jonadunce is as evil as can be.

garrix8:


Only those who don't know him think he is humble. He is a Nebuchadnezzar. He's only doing all of these to save face and get a soft landing.

Jonadunce is as evil as can be.

martyns303:


Name one evil act he was directly responsible for. The only wrong Jonathan ever did was not able to tackle the havoc created by others, and since he wasn't able to, he has done the most Honourable thing by quietly giving the responsibility to someone else. Let's hope GMB won't fail.

Samunique:
U need to be tamed before it gets out of hand!!!

I know ur likes are not happy for the relative peace we are enjoying now in Nigeria contrary to what our western hypocrites have predicted.

#Go get ur medicine !!!

Hate kills faster than HIV !!!

EroticAngelina:
and how do u know that? u live with him huh?
listen brat, even if he is evil, he is not as evil as buhari
hope u remember buhari's regime and how he killed innocent ppl? u remember how he took PDP to court over election ish in 2015? Buhari is the evil one. he is the wolf in sheep's clothing. mtchew.

garrix8:


Jonadunce would have gone the way of Gbagbo if he had tried anything silly. He knew he was in a helpless state and had no choice but to step down.

garrix8:


Only those who don't know him think he is humble. He is a Nebuchadnezzar. He's only doing all of these to save face and get a soft landing.

Jonadunce is as evil as can be.