2023: Jonathan Gives Condition To Join APC

Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan has given condition that would make him dump the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress.

According to Punch, Jonathan will only join the ruling party ahead of the 2023 general election if he is endorsed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Jonathan in the past few months has stayed away from activities of the PDP, including the last national convention of the main opposition party.

Posters of the former president on Thursday were spotted at the National Secretariat of the ruling party.

While on Friday, some supporters of the former president stormed his office in the Maitama area of Abuja to beckon him to contest.

Jonathan after a meeting with the leaders of his supporters on Friday said he was not sure if he would run, he, however, asked them to ‘watch out.

A top source in the APC that spoke with Punch on condition of anonymity said Jonathan is seeking an assurance that he would get the presidential ticket of the ruling party.

The APC chieftain said, “Jonathan has already been President before. So, the APC cannot offer him anything except the Presidential ticket. Imagine him contesting against Osinbajo and Tinubu and losing? Wouldn’t that be disgraceful?

“So, he has made his position clear. If he is to come to the APC, he must be given the assurance that he will be given the party’s ticket. That is his demand.”

The source added that the former President may be sold as a “compromise candidate” amid a call for the presidency to be zoned to the South.

He further stated, “Jonathan is the only Nigerian alive that can promise to serve only one Presidential term and abide by it because he is limited by the constitution. If he serves one term, then power returns to the North. It is also not an easy decision but I can assure you that President Buhari will have no qualms with a Jonathan Presidency.”

Meanwhile, the APC National Working Committee of the ruling party has plans to give special waivers to select aspirants based on the powers conferred on it by the National Executive Committee.

“Section 31.3 of the new APC constitution titled ‘waiver’, reads in part, “Subject to the approval of the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee may, in special circumstances, grant a waiver to a person seeking a national party official, who is otherwise not qualified under this constitution if, in its opinion, such a waiver is in the best interest of the party.”