Posted by By JACOB EDI, Abuja on
The health of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Katsina State governor, Alhaji Umar Yar'Adua, appears to be failing as he has been ordered by his doctors to take a rest.
The health of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Katsina State governor, Alhaji Umar Yar'Adua, appears to be failing as he has been ordered by his doctors to take a rest.
However, there were conflicting reports Tuesday night on the whereabouts of Yar'Adua. While the PDP said he was in Abuja, sources said he had been flown to Germany for treatment.
This is coming on the heels of speculations that the governor may pull out of the presidential race over his failing health.
Confirming that the Katsina State governor was ill, National Secretary of the PDP, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, however, said, in Lagos Tuesday night that Yar' Adua was still in the race. He said that the rigour of the campaign was taking a toll on the PDP presidential candidate, adding that his doctors recommended a rest. He said that Yar'Adua was in Abuja and may go abroad.
Yar' Adua's ill-health is coming at a time there are speculations that he has been under pressure from his family members to pull out of the race for two reasons: ill health and the fear that President Olusegun Obasanjo may not quit power in May.
It was gathered that a group, believed to be working for General Ibrahim Babangida, is hoping that if Yar'Adua quits, the former military president may be drafted into the race. However, another source said that the former national security adviser, Gen Aliyu Gusau, may be drafted to replace Yar' Adua if doctors declare him medical unfit to continue in the presidential race.
Sources, however, revealed that a delegation has been sent to Germany to obtain the medical records of Yar'Adua, with the view to knowing whether he could continue in the presidential race or not.
It was equally gathered that Obasanjo is already angling for a possible extension of the handover date. A bill to that effect is said to be in the offing.
The PDP national scribe had at the press briefing Tuesday night prayed God not to allow Yar'Adua's health to get to the level where the PDP will substitute him.
Speaking on the development a legal practitioner, Chief Ayo Opadokun said with the deadline for substitution of candidates' names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over, the implication is that if the PDP presidential candidate does not recover on time to stand for the election, then the race would go ahead without Yar'Adua."
Opadokun said the Electoral Act does not make provision 'for this kind of development," adding that 'the implication is that the election would be held without Yar'Adua."
'It's also out of the question that Jonathan Goodluck will stand in for Yar'Adua as the PDP Presidential candidate of his health worsens. Yar'Adua is the only one known to law as the PDP presidential candidate, Jonathan Goodluck is not. Goodluck is not known to law as a presidential candidate. He's a running mate, Opadokun contended further.
In his own view, another legal practitioner, Bamidele Aturu, however, said there is no law forbidding a sick candidate from contesting election. According to him, the PDP may only have a moral problem, because people may not like to vote for a sick candidate.