2019: Jang Joins Presidential Race

By Akinwale Kasali

No doubt, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has a long walk ahead as the 2019 polls draw nearer. The top echelon of the party led by the Chairman, Uche Secondus, will have an herculean task of choosing the candidate that will hoist the party’s flag as the race for who clinches the presidential tickets thickens.

No fewer than 15 people have indicated interest of becoming the party’s flagbearer come 2019 for the presidential seat. Latest to join the list of aspirants his, Senator Jonah Jang, former governor of Plateau State.

Today, Jang, representing Plateau North in the National Assembly, led his supporters to the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party to formally intimate them of his interest to join the 2019 presidential race.

Justice Daniel Longji of Plateau State High Court granted bail to Jang and a former cashier in the office of the Secretary to Plateau State Government, Yusuf Gyang Pam.

The accused persons were arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and slammed with 12 counts bordering on alleged misuse of some special funds released to Plateau state by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The offences were said to have been perpetrated few months to the end of Jang’s tenure as governor in 2015.

Jang had repeatedly linked his ordeals to his presidential ambition, insisting that they were politically motivated.

Already, the Plateau PDP secretariat is wearing a new look ahead of Jang’s declaration today.

A notice by the immediate-past Secretary to the State Government during the administration of Jang and now Director-General of his Presidential Campaign Committee, Prof. Shedrack Best, said the declaration event started at 12 noon.

He said, “This is to notify party faithful and well-wishers that the date for submission of a letter of intent to the party (PDP) for the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Distinguished Senator Jonah Jang is now Tuesday (today) August 28 2018 at 12 noon. The venue is the PDP State Secretariat opposite NTA Jos. All are invited to grace the occasion.”