The race for the 2023 Presidential seat has taken a new twist, following reports from the mainstream media concerning the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Mr. Jonathan, on Monday, official declared his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) – which handed him a platform to serve Nigeria as a Vice President and then as President for six years – to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
A purported group had opted to purchase the Presidential nomination and declaration of interest forms for Dr. Jonathan but his Media aide has cleared the air on that.
Dr. Jonathan’s Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, told the Channels Television – hours after the news that the group had bought the form broke – that the former President did not authorize the purchase and considers the move by the group ‘an insult’.
“We wish to categorically state that Dr. Jonathan was not aware of this bid and did not authorize it”, the statement read in part.
“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.”
In recent months, there have been increased speculations about whether the former President would run for his old post in the 2023 general elections and there have been calls for him to do so. But the former President is yet to state whether he would contest or not.
“While we appreciate the overwhelming request by a cross-section of Nigerians for Dr. Jonathan to make himself available for the 2023 Presidential election, we wish to state that he has not in anyway committed himself to this request.” Eze said.
“Buying a presidential aspiration form in the name Dr. Jonathan without his consent, knowing the position he had held in this country, is considered an insult to his person. The general public is therefore advised to disregard it”, he added.
