The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it would allow former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest for the 2023 presidency if he joins the ruling party.
The National Secretary, APC Caretaker, and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, John Akpanudoedehe, said this while featuring as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.
He said this when asked about the speculations that Jonathan is considering joining the ruling party.
The APC official also said the ex-president will be granted a founding member status if he joins.
He, however, said the opportunity that will be given to Jonathan is not automatic, noting that he would compete with other members of the party before getting the ticket.
Akpanudoedehe said, “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 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,” he added.
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.
But the Peoples Democratic Party at that time dispelled reports that Jonathan was about to dump the party for the APC ahead of the 2023 elections.
When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said, “Speculations that our former President and some of our governors are joining the APC remain what they are, speculations that exist in the figment of the imagination of the authors of such baseless speculations.”
Source: Punch
