APC invitation: Jonathan won't abandon PDP, says Presidency

President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday turned down an invitation reportedly made to him on Tuesday by the interim leadership of the newly-registered All Progressives Congress (APC) to join in their ranks, saying he is contented being a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Nevertheless, the President saw the invitation by the leading opposition figures as an acknowledgement of his leadership capacity and capability, for which he remains grateful.

Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati in a chat with State House correspondents yesterday in Abuja, Jonathan viewed the invitation as a compliment.

For him, the invitation by the APC's interim Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, has shown clearly that the leaders of the opposition party are also aware of the fact that Jonathan is the best man for the job at present. He however ruled out the possibility of joining the APC.

Besides, he submitted that the leaders of the party might have suddenly realised that they did not have credible candidate to fly their flag, that accounted for why they have decided to extend an invitation to the president.

His words: 'I think it (the APC's invitation) is a compliment. What Chief Akande has said in essence is that President Jonathan is the best man for the job. They formed a party only to realise they don't have a candidate. We thank him for his acknowledgment of the President's leadership qualities, but he (the President) is happy where he is.

'We thank Chief Akande for his expression of confidence in President Jonathan's credibility but the President is happy where he is, as a member and leader of the PDP to which he remains loyal, and under the umbrella of which he is leading a transformation agenda for the betterment of the lives of Nigerians.'

The PDP also said the APC lacked presidential materials.

In a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Tony Caesar Okeke, PDP pointed out that  'the leadership crisis rocking the opposition party just a few days after registration is an indication that the APC is a party of desperate power mongers whose only aim is to satisfy their egocentric interests.'