Presidential Poll: How Jonathan, Ahmadu Ali Averted Crisis

But for President Goodluck Jonathan and Director-General of his campaign organisation, Dr Ahmadu Ali, the outcome of the presidential election would have ended in chaos.

Prior to the announcement of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, General Muhammudu Buhari, by the Independent National Electoral Committee, INEC, as president-elect, Jonathan had called to congratulate him.
Investigations revealed that from the outset, Jonathan did not want violence before, during and after the election.

A very reliable source told Sunday Vanguard: “In Jonathan’s reckoning, as well as Ahmadu Ali, even though there were irregularities in the North and South, the peace and stability of Nigeria was far more important.”

Considering the tension the electioneering campaigns had generated across the country, it was felt that conceding even before the final announcement of election results would douse tension.

The source explained that to put the APC leadership on its toes and dismiss the notion that the PDP tried to manipulate the electoral process, “it was agreed that congratulating the APC and General Buhari ahead of time would force the APC to begin to focus more on the transition and governance than on politicking.”

To achieve this objective, according to the source, “a meeting of the PDP Campaign Organization and the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party was called last Tuesday afternoon.”

It was at the meeting that the president and his PDPPCO DG “made their points”, the source stated.
The source disclosed that Ali’s close relationship with Jonathan helped to create a synergy between the Villa and the Campaign Directorate such that each had the other’s confidence.

Though the APC cast aspersion on the President, the source said the campaign organisation refused to throw mud.

“All through the campaigns, it would have been noticed that Ali cautioned against the use of incendiary words,” the source explained.

“And Ali was never heard using hate language all through the campaign. Ali helped to properly organise and structure the campaign. Ali also worked tirelessly with other leaders of the party like the BoT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, to bring together the many tendencies within the party for unity.”

Vanguard