The Taminu Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has explained why it settled for former President, Goodluck Jonathan, as its sole presidential candidate for next year’s general elections.
A stalwart of the party, Umar Sani, said the decision was influenced by what he described as the nostalgia many Nigerians still have for Jonathan’s administration.
Sani spoke on Tuesday during an interview on Trust TV, where he said the party considered the interests and expectations of voters across the country before arriving at the decision.
According to him, Jonathan, who served as President between 2010 and 2015, built a political image that still appeals to many ordinary Nigerians.
Sani said the PDP believed Jonathan remained attractive to voters because of the memories many Nigerians had of his time in office.
He stated, “We have to look at the interests of our voters all over the country and look at how we can penetrate those voters and be able to get them to support us.
“One of the interests is to have one term as a president, and it will appeal to a certain category of voters. It is, of course, in our interest to project that.
“Nevertheless, the most important reason why we brought Jonathan is because of the nostalgia that Nigerians have for him.”
The PDP chieftain said many Nigerians still compare the cost of living under Jonathan with the current economic situation.
He said such memories formed part of the reasons the party considered Jonathan a strong choice.
Sani said, “If you meet an ordinary man in the street and he was there during Jonathan’s period. He will tell you that a bag of rice was sold for ₦7,500 or ₦8,000.
“And also, these are some of the allures that people remember him for.”
Sani added that the party’s choice was aimed at broadening its appeal and improving its chances of securing support from voters nationwide.