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President Goodluck Jonathan last night met with senators of the People’s Democratic Party as part of his drive to recruit sympathizers to his 2011 presidential ambition.

The meeting was held behind closed doors at the Apo Mansion official residence of the Senate President, David Mark with almost all the PDP senators in attendance.

Mr Jonathan, who arrived at the Senate President’s residence at about 7.13 pm, went straight into the meeting with the senators after he was received by the Mr Mark and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu. He also left briskly without a word to the press. The senators, however, stayed back a little longer.

NEXT, however, learnt the meeting largely discussed the ambition of the president ahead of the PDP’s national convention and the 2011 general election. It was gathered that the meeting took off with issues of internal democracy within the party but, shortly after, veered into campaign for the President.

Mr Jonathan was quoted by a source at the meeting as having said that it is necessary for him to meet with the Ssenators, considering their role in the party as well as the country.

NEXT also learnt that Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, Director General of the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organization, who was on the president’s entourage did most of the talking which centered mainly on the campaign.
The president, it was gathered, solicited for the support of the senators and assured the leadership of the senate that he would put in a word with the national leadership of the PDP over their ambitions to return to the senate.

It is however unclear if the meeting discussed the mounting opposition to the amendment of the 2010 Electoral act, which seeks to give the senators an overwhelming power in the party structure and an automatic voting delegate ticket at voting congresses of the party.

It was also gathered that the meeting could not discuss the ill-feeling of the national assembly over what they considered a deliberate attempt by some members of the Executive to demonize them. The meeting, which ended at 8.27pm, was also attended by former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Tony Anenih.