THE Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDP-GF) has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as the sole candidate for the party in the 2015 presidential election.

This was the resolution of the 19 governors and deputies who attended a meeting of the forum on Wednesday evening at the Akwa Ibom State Government Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

Chairman of the forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, who was flanked by all the attendees, read the communique issued at the end of the meeting, where he revealed their resolve to ensure that Jonathan was returned as president for a second tenure.

The forum urged all PDP faithful across the country to support this “vision and gesture, which we believe will enable the president to become the sole presidential candidate of our great party in 2015.”

The forum commended the president for his effort in curbing Ebola outbreak in the country, as well as the efforts of the armed forces in combating insurgency in the North-East.

On the Osun State gubernatorial election, the governors saluted the decision of the PDP candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore and all PDP faithful to pursue their right through the law courts.

They also commended the acting governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, for his emergence as the party candidate in the October 11 gubernatorial election in the state and urged all Adamawa people to support him.

Present at the meeting were Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Theodore Orji (Abia), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Idris Wada (Kogi), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Ramallan Yero ( Kaduna), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi); Ahmadu Fintiri and Umar Garba (acting governors Adamawa and Taraba respectively).

Also present were Mahmoud Gumel, Abdullahi Faskari, Mukhtar Shagari, Damishi Luka, deputy governors of Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto and Nasarawa states respectively.

Meanwhile, the National Executive Council of the PDP will today meet in Abuja, for the ratification of its timetable and guidelines for its primaries.

It was gathered that the party, in a draft to the NEC for ratification, fixed its presidential primaries for December 6, while those of the National Assembly and governorship would hold on November 22 and 29, respectively.

We further learnt that all the other organs of the party, including its national caucus, Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Working Committee (NWC), had met and ratified the draft time-table and guidelines, which would be presented to the NEC today for final endorsement.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, confirmed this to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, on Wednesday, but declined further comments.

However, a member of the party’s BOT told the Nigerian Tribune in confidence that the party would commence the sale of forms for interested members seeking to vie for elective positions between October 27 and 28.

According to the source, “it is, however, expected that public servants, appointed people and elected party officials will resign seven days before the commencement of ward congresses.”

The source also confirmed  that the South-West zonal congress of the party had been tentatively fixed for October 11, to replace the current Chief Ishola Filani-led caretaker committee in the zone.

Those being expected at today’s NEC meeting are President Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, PDP governors, Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, former presidents who are members of the party, members of the BOT, former national chairmen of the party and others.

Already, security has been beefed up in and around the Wadata Plaza national secretariat of the party, venue of the NEC meeting.

In another development, party caucus meeting, which brainstormed on amendments to be made to the party’s guidelines took place Tuesday night, at the Presidential Villa.

The meeting also had President Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo in attendance.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Delta State governor, Dr Uduaghan, confirmed that the party’s election guidelines towards the 2015 general election was the main focus at the meeting.

Also speaking, Abia State governor, Orji, said the PDP election guidelines would be tabled before the NEC meeting today.

Others at the caucus meeting included Senator David Mark and the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha