The Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) has adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate.
This was made known during its National Convention which was held in Lagos Friday, during which its National Chairman, Frederick Fasheun said the UPN is a new party and needs time to take root in all parts of the country.
“We are still a young party and that is why we are not fielding a presidential candidate. We have told our members who we are to support. We felt their pulse and it was moving in a particular direction.
“Allowing President Jonathan to continue in office on another four-year term will allow for the maturation of his infrastructural and socio-economic programmes, as well as guarantee continuity in development policies which a new government may likely abort.
“We are not confused about those we know that do not deserve our votes and our precious support. Therefore, the UPN will support President Goodluck Jonathan in next month’s election.
“We have endorsed him as our candidate. The national convention hereby resolves that all UPN structures and members nationwide will work for President Jonathan’s success”, Fasheun said.
He also said anyone who stands for nothing will soon count for nothing. “Unfortunately, this is true of our Nigeria of today. Nigerian politics has become peopled by politicians who subscribe to neither ideals nor ideology.
“That informs why a politician can be in the ruling party on one minute and suddenly cross-carpet to the opposition party in the next minute and no one would see anything wrong with it. Do you then wonder why 16 years after our democracy, our citizens cannot feel the impact.
“We cannot afford to run the country this way and UPN has come to change the game. We will devote our energy to play people-driven politics, ignite the confidence of citizens, and uphold the sanctity of the general elections,” he added.
A new national executive was elected, while Fasheun retained his position as the National Chairman.
The party also unveiled Chief Modupe Onitiri-Abiola, wife of the late MKO Abiola as its governorship candidate for Lagos State.
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