Crisis trails UPN’s adoption of Jonathan as candidate

A few days after the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate, crisis has erupted in the party.
During the meeting in Lagos when national officers were elected, the National Chairman, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, announced Jonathan’s adoption as the party’s candidate for the February 14 election.
But on Sunday, the party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Sokoto, said as long as Fasehun remains suspended from the party, he does not have the mandate to speak for UPN.
“The Leadership of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) did not authorise the suspended National Chairman nor direct any official of the party at any level to commit the party to support any presidential candidate.
“On behalf of the National Executive Committee of our party, I am urging the general public and party leaders to disregard the highest act of irresponsibility of the suspended national chairman.
“It is embarrassing to leaders and supporters of our party all over the country to learn the suspended national chairman declaring support for dragging the name of our party to ridicule.
“The National Executive Committee, which is the highest organ of the party, has not met to take a decision on the issue of presidential election. UPN was not registered to serve or to actualise personal interest of individuals.
“We did not resuscitate UPN for the party to be used in negotiating the N3.5 billion pipeline contract. We hasten to warn that Dr Fasehun is on his own for adopting a candidate of his choice”.