I have accepted the offer to contest, I will run – Jonathan

Less than 24 hours after an ultimatum from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to him and others to purchase nomination forms within seven days, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday swiftly moved to formalise his re-election process with the constitution of a declaration committee.

A highly placed presidency source disclosed yesterday that the president would also pick the nomination form before the expiration of the one week deadline given by the PDP to all aspirants to various offices.

Jonathan, who has already raised a 37-member declaration committee, will  formally declare any day between November 7 and 15.

A reliable Presidency source, who pleaded anonymity told journalists in Abuja that Jonathan made his intention to contest known to the party leaders at a closed-door meeting in one of the guest houses inside the Presidential Villa…

The source said, “President Jonathan today (Thursday) met with the leadership of the PDP and party leaders from the various zones of the country. He thanked them for giving him the right of first refusal as far as the party’s presidential ticket was concerned.

“The President told them that he had accepted their offer and he was interested in the presidential race.

“He told them that he will come and pick up his nomination form before the deadline stipulated by the party.”