Agbo Dennis
2023 presidency: We’ll give Jonathan chance to contest: The All Progressives Congress says former President Goodluck Jonathan will be given an opportunity to contest for the 2023 presidency if he joins the ruling party.
John Akpanudoedehe, who is the National Secretary, APC Caretaker, and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee said this while featuring as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.
Akpanudoedehe said this when asked about the speculations that Jonathan is considering to join the ruling party.
The APC official also said the ex-president will be granted a founding member status if he joins.
Read Also; Bullets Alone Can’t Stop Crimes – Jonathan Tells FG
He, however, said the opportunity that will be given to him (Jonathan) is not automatic, saying that he would still compete with other members of the party before getting the ticket.
He added, “I am hearing that for the first time that we are expecting the former President. That will be great news. We will welcome him; that will also strengthen the party.
The last National Executive Council of the party actually gave a blanket approval to any individual that if you join APC today, it is as if you are a founding member of the party.
So, anyone who joins today has the same opportunity to run for any office in this party. It has always been so, so I am not speculating,” Akpanudoedehe said.
Chairman of the Caretaker/ Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress, Mai Mala Buni, and some APC governors had unprecedently visited the ex-President in November 2020.
Incase You Miss; Buhari to address UN General Assembly September 24
But the Peoples Democratic Party at that time dispelled reports that Jonathan was about to dump the party for the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2023 elections.
APC’s deputy national publicity secretary, Yekini Mabena made this known to The Guardian amid speculations that the former President had dumped the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Nabena who hails from Bayelsa state insisted that there is no iota of truth in such speculation to the best of his knowledge.
As at this moment, there is nothing like that. If the former President Jonathan decides to join the APC, it can’t be a hidden event. We will naturally celebrate it, Nabena said.
As a chieftain of the APC, I am aware that anybody who wants to join the party would start from the ward level. To the best of my knowledge as a Bayelsan, I am not aware of anything like that yet.
Jonathan, who lost his reelection bid to the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 poll was at the helm of affairs of the country on the platform of the PDP between May 2010 and May 2015.
What do you think about GEJ Joining APC? Leave a Comment
