Former President Goodluck Jonathan officially joins APC, to run for 2023 presidency

By Dayo Badmus,

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has reportedly bowed to pressure and joined the All Progressives Congress, APC according to reports.

The Bayelsa state born former Vice President and President according to latest reports has decided to run for president in 2023.

This is coming 48 hours after he disowned a nomination form secured for him by a northern organization.

On May 9, Mr. Jonathan rejected the presidential expressions of interest and nomination forms bought for him by a Fulani group from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Later, he paid a visit to the APC Chairman Abdullahi Adamu, reportedly to disassociate himself from the acquisition, according to his aides.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, citing a reliable source in Mr Jonathan’s camp, Mr Jonathan has finally decided to run for the top job he lost to the incumbent in 2015.

The source, pleading anonymity, told NAN that the former president has also joined the APC formally, having registered at his Otuoke Ward in Bayelsa.

Meanwhile, Jonathan is expected to submit the duly filled forms bought on his behalf on today, Thursday, the source offered further.

The former president has reportedly secured the support of the required number of APC delegates from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“Several bigwigs of the party have also been calling Jonathan to pledge their loyalty and support to the former president,’’ the source revealed.

The source reportedly told NAN political correspondent late on Wednesday that some influential African leaders had called former President Goodluck Jonathan earlier on Monday to advise him “to contest the election in the interest of Nigeria.

“At least three top African leaders called the former president on the matter. They all urged him to run.

“One of them specifically told him that it didn’t make sense travelling all over Africa settling disputes only to shy away from leadership responsibility in his home country.

“Another reminded him of the implication of failing to put the experiences he garnered as a former Nigerian president and as a continental statesman to good use,” the source added but did not mention the names of the African leaders.

The source cited some of the African leaders as telling Jonathan that Nigeria was passing through challenging times and “needed a unifier like Jonathan at this time’’.

Mr Jonathan, who lost power to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, was born in 1957 in the Ogbia district in Bayelsa State.

He was previously of the PDP party on whose platform he ruled Nigeria until he lost the presidential election to Buhari in 2015.

(NAN)