The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples
Democratic Party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, tells LEKE BAIYEWU
in this interview why President Goodluck Jonathan lost
at the presidential election and how the ruling party
plans to win more states in the governorship election
holding this week
What is the general mood in the Peoples Democratic
Party about the last presidential election?
The party is elated with the enthusiasm with which
Nigerians have embraced democracy. The success of
democratic transition – from civilian to civilian — has
been enhanced by the PDP. It is a success to us; the
fact that we have been able to sustain our democracy
in this country for more than 16 years, more than any
other party has ever done in the history of this country,
is a thing of joy to us.
With regards to this election, we are happy that the
election has come and has been concluded. For us as
a party, we have been engaged in meetings on what to
do since Wednesday. There were two options: one is to
highlight the irregularities recorded in the election, the
other is to overlook the irregularities and focus on the
coming elections. Our final decision will be
communicated.
Is the All Progressives Congress’ victory at the poll
about being better than the PDP?
The election (result) has been announced and our
people have highlighted certain irregularities in
different parts (of the country). The issue of who is
better does not arise. We are happy with the support
Nigerians have given to our party; we are happy with
the outing of our party men across the country; the
fact that we were able to campaign and people
showed love and turned out, except for the
irregularities like card reader (malfunction) and others
that affected the enthusiasm of some people. We are
happy with the whole process.
Is there anything the electorate will miss without the
PDP and Jonathan’s presidency in the next four years?
The strength of our party lies in our pursuit of peace,
unity and progress, especially the unity of this country.
The fact that we have strengthened national interests;
we have mobilised the entire body politics; is our
strength. That is what the PDP stands for and that is
what Nigerians will always realise about the party.
That, we have built on the unity of our country.
What were the lapses identified in the PDP in the course
of the electioneering campaign that the party will like to
correct?
It is too early to give a self critique. It is too early. Of
course, we know that nobody is perfect; no
organisation is perfect. Yes, there were shortcomings
but it is too early to highlight them.
Do you see the roles former President Olusegun
Obasanjo played prior to the election, as some of the
factors that worked against the PDP?
Obasanjo remains a national figure; a national hero.
He remains somebody who has ruled our country for
eight years and Chairman of our former Board of
Trustees. We were sad to let him go. We regretted it;
the party regretted his going. We did all we could to
get him to stay but we could not control his actions.
We still hope that someday we will be together again.
What is the expectation of the PDP in the forthcoming
governorship and state House of Assembly elections?
We have very good candidates across the country.
Most especially, we know that we will retain the strong
base of the South-East and the South-South and we
hope to recover some states in the Middle Best (North-
Central) and the South-West. That is what we hope to
do.
Have you considered the possibility of a bandwagon
effect in the governorship poll, having lost the
presidency to the opposition?
They are not yet in power. We are still in office and we
are still in power.
You mean there will be no effect?
There is nothing like that in this governorship election.
If there is bandwagon, it will follow the leader. It is
about who is in power. There is nothing like that.
What efforts is the PDP making to break the
strongholds of the APC in the governorship election?
We don’t know where there strongholds are but we
hope that our governors, especially in Gombe, Katsina
and Kaduna, will be able to retain their seats. We have
a very good candidate in Adamawa that will win in the
state. We also know that because of the performance
of the governor of Katsina, he will win the state. I don’t
know what you mean by APC strongholds, this is
about candidates. Buhari is not running for
governorship. We know what our people will do well.
Right now, if you look at the history of our
governorship candidates, we have very good
candidates.
Has the PDP begun to reconcile aggrieved members
after the loss of the presidential poll and ahead of the
governorship election?
It is too early. We are focusing on the elections; that
will wait until when we finish with the elections on
Saturday.

http://www.punchng.com/politics/crossfire/jonathans-loss-due-to-irregularities-metuh/

Eeyah!..





Sai Buhari!!!

Which irregularities is he referring to? I'm sure he's referring to the $500,000 that was alledgedly put together by PDP states' governors to "convince Jega to allow the election swing Jona's way which the latter refused or the latter's insistence to the usage of PVCs & card readers that made it impossible for them to conjure more than the 5m of the 12m votes they recorded.

PDP is still in power but it has become a toothless bulldog,no state apparatus will help them perpetuate electoral fraud and Its also great that he didn't mention PDP retaining any of their NE&NW states cos that ship sailed on the 28th of march.

Nigeria will rise again.
Sai Buhari

Story for the gods, this is a clear case of pot calling kettle black.

Oliseh Metuh is the main reason for Jonathan's failure in the March 28 election. His constant rediculing of Islam and labeling APC as an Islamic party pushed almost all Muslims to APC leaving the PDP with only a part of the Christian votes,

Them never see anything, April 11own go be like film trick too.
PDP is dead and buried since march 28.
Dunno this guy still dey naija.

Eyah,the OBJ part got me feeling pity for PDP,is he no longer a motorpark tout? Now u call him a hero. Shoro niyen?..But I agree with the point that the governorship elections would be about candidates and not party,am Apc supporter,but we shouldn't expect the massive support we got for Buhari's emergence to directly effect the outcome of gubernatorial elections. We should be cautious. APC,Change!!

Metuh, one of the many idiotas that deceived Jonathan and pushed him to failure. Your eyes are cleared now. Soon they all will leave Jonathan to carry his cross. This life as, smh.

OgaTheTop2:
Metuh, one of the many idiotas that deceived Jonathan and pushed him to failure. Your eyes are cleared now. Soon they all will leave Jonathan to carry his cross. This life as, smh.

Indeed. I am glad we won't have to listen to the likes of Metuh, FFK, Fayose, Okupe et al any more. Those characters made Nigeria appear a nation full of hooligans, charlatans and unprincipled liars.

Jonathan didnt lose. He was rigged out by Jega's PVC distribution strategy. I will NEVER forgive Jega for enthroning an illiterate on Nigerians. This is one administration that we will regret having. If Buhari is chanted everywhere as anti-corruption enigma, he MUST arrest Tinubu immediately, arrest Amaechi immediately and let them explain where they had the billions they sponsored his campaigns from. He should prove to us, that it is he, not Tunde Idiagbon that actually ran the government of 1980s.

Sorry op I didn't have time to read your story.
Busy cooking my banga soup

Billyonaire:
Jonathan didnt lose. He was rigged out by Jega's PVC distribution strategy. I will NEVER forgive Jega for enthroning an illiterate on Nigerians. This is one administration that we will regret having. If Buhari is chanted everywhere as anti-corruption enigma, he MUST arrest Tinubu immediately, arrest Amaechi immediately and let them explain where they had the billions they sponsored his campaigns from. He should prove to us, that it is he, not Tunde Idiagbon that actually ran the government of 1980s.

Which one be PVC distribution strategy again? Na Jega say make una no collect pvcs?

Delta votes wey dey almost equal to that of lagos nko?

Delta and akwa ibom votes big pass that of d south east sef

[s]

Billyonaire:
Jonathan didnt lose. He was rigged out by Jega's PVC distribution strategy. I will NEVER forgive Jega for enthroning an illiterate on Nigerians. This is one administration that we will regret having. If Buhari is chanted everywhere as anti-corruption enigma, he MUST arrest Tinubu immediately, arrest Amaechi immediately and let them explain where they had the billions they sponsored his campaigns from. He should prove to us, that it is he, not Tunde Idiagbon that actually ran the government of 1980s.

[/s]

Cry no more