Presidency: 2015 Election a Temporary Setback, Says PDP Must Re-strategise

The Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, has described the outcome of the 2015 general election as a temporary setback for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but not the final destination for the party.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Alkali appealed to the supporters of President Jonathan to use the transition period as a time for self-reflection to heal and re-strategise.

“I wish to appreciate and thank all the groups and individuals who have contributed one way or the other to support President Jonathan during the election. We should all see the outcome of the presidential election as temporary setback not a fullstop in a long sentence of the political history of this great country Nigeria,” he said.

The special adviser said though the president and the PDP lost in the election, it was only a bus-stop but certainly not a terminus, as all the supporters of Jonathan still remain the most critical political assets of the PDP and await the direction of the party.

“It is conceivable that as a result of this unprecedented setback, our members and supporters may lose focus, hope and direction and even be tempted to engage in divisive activities, nonetheless, we should be more united than ever as the task now is to join hands together to strengthen the party,” Alkali stated.

He called on all the supporters of President, especially the men and women who contributed to the campaigns and stood for him in the just concluded presidential election, to remain calm and resolute as the country prepares for the May 29th handover to the incoming administration.

Responding to questions on the decision of the president to concede to his opponent even when the entire result of the election was not announced, the political adviser said: “Our President, Dr. Jonathan, has displayed and established an