Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan met with the All Progressives Congress’s National Chairman (APC).
According to Anaedoonline.ng, the meeting was held behind closed doors on Monday night.
Remember that within the cover of the reigning party, a Northern faction acquired the Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms for the previous leader.
Nigerians have been left in the dark about Jonathan’s unannounced switch to the APC, which has stirred interest.
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However, in a statement sent by his spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, Goodluck Jonathan denied running for president in 2023.
The former president added that if he decides to run for President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor, he will not do it through the ‘back door.’
The statement reads partly: “It has come to our notice that a group has purportedly purchased Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms, of the All Progressives Congress APC, in the name of former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
“We wish to categorically state that Dr. Jonathan was not aware of this bid and did not authorize it.
“We want to state that if the former President wanted to contest an election, he would make his intentions clear to the public and will not enter through the back door.”
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When Jonathan met with APC chairman Abdullahi Adamu, the rejection of the so-called nomination forms by the northern faction dominated the conversation.
According to a person acquainted with the conversation, Jonathan assured Mr Adamu that he was not engaged in the purchase of the forms.
According to reports, the former president had planned to accept the nomination form and meet with the APC leadership since Sunday morning, but was persuaded by his ‘close caucus allies’ to defer the action and stay in the PDP even though he was not actively involved in the party.
“These people have been pressurizing Jonathan until the very last minute not to accept to run on the APC ticket no matter how tempting the conditions may be. That was why the former president did not present himself to the APC National chairman on Sunday when the form was to be formally presented to him by the Almajiri who want to show him appreciation for what he did for them during his tenure by building schools and rehabilitating them,” the source said.
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“The main argument of those opposed to Jonathan running on the APC ticket is that it would be belittling to his image and standing in the world for him to do so given where he had been and what he represents as a former president of Nigeria. But the point is that the deadline for picking the form is this week and if he does not accept the form, the window would be closed and the opportunity lost,” one source explained.
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