Atiku, Jonathan express optimism on PDP returning to power in 2019

macfranc007 June 21, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Oluwatobi Bolashodun

- Forner President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have expressed optimism on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chances in 2019

- Both Jonthan and Atiku noted that the opposition has what it takes to return to power in 2019

- Jonathan noted that the party is getting stronger, affirming that PDP is now better poised to win the 2019 presidential election

Nigeria's former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday, June 20, expressed optimism that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would return to power in 2019, The Nation reports.

NAIJ.com gathered that the duo speaking with journalists when Jonathan hosted Atiku at his home in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state noted that the party is getting stronger.

Jonathan in a statement issued by his spokesman, Ilechukwu Eze, on PDP chances in 2019, said that the party is better poised to win next year’s presidential election.

He said: “Yes, we had some issues in 2015. But as you know politics is a very dynamic business. I believe PDP is coming back and getting stronger.

“Even though we are in the opposition with fewer governors, PDP is still the strongest and largest party in the country.”

The former president also said he was pleased Atiku who came to Bayelsa to commission state government projects and paid him a visit.

Jonathan said he had enjoyed a long relationship with Atiku, beginning from his time as deputy governor of Bayelsa.

Atiku insisted that only the PDP has the strength and structure to win the presidential election in 2019.

He said: “It is actually the PDP that has the strength and structure to get back to Aso Rock. There is no other party that has the structure and strength like the PDP. Without PDP, APC should not have been in Aso Rock.”.

In a report by This Day, the former vice president has also declared that he has never diverted public funds to invest in his private business, and challenged anybody with evidence to make it public.

Atiku pointed out that his presence in Jonathan’s house had nothing to do with the forthcoming 2019 elections, adding that he only came to pay his respects to the former president while on a visit to Bayelsa state.

“I cannot visit Yenagoa in Bayelsa State without coming to see the former president,” he said.

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NAIJ.com previously reported that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria's former vice president allegedly met former president Goodluck Jonathan to consider offers made to him by a section of the leadership of the opposition party to return.

There are reports that some PDP chieftains are making efforts to bring Atiku back to the party’s fold but that he gave them conditions which include being given automatic ticket to contest the 2019 presidential election.

Atiku was said to have met Jonathan for the purpose of looking into these conditions, especially, that of automatic ticket.

2019 Presidency: Nigerians reveal why they prefer Atiku to Buhari - on NAIJ.com TV.