Jonathan rejected the presidential form bought by some Northern group and term it as an “insult”~details below
Despite all the pressuring and lobbying by some Northern group known as “miyetti allah asking the former president of Nigeria Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in accepting to run for the 2023 presidential election even went to the extreme of purchasing the presidential form aside his consent.
Mean while, the former president Jonathan, still rejected the presidential nomination form and described the purchase of the form, ‘without his consent’ as an ‘insult.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, Mr Jonathan also said he is yet to decide whether to seek re-election on the platform of Nigeria’s current ruling party, APC.
The former president Jonathan governed Nigeria under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for five years before a new elected president Muhammadu Buhari emerged a winner under the All Progress Congress (APC) in 2015.
President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to conclude his constitutionally permitted second term in 2023 and there has been a rush by many APC politicians to succeed him.
There are over 25 presidential forms of interest, each costing a whopping sum of N100 million, all have been bought by the APC aspirants.
According to a valid report where some northern group, on Monday, bought the form for for former Jonathan who has refused to categorically distance himself from the presidential race.
His spokesperson, Mr Eze, stressed that, the former president was not consulted before the form was bought.
“It has come to our notice that a group has purportedly purchased Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms, of the All Progressives Congress APC, in the name of former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,” Mr Ani wrote.
“We wish to categorically state that Dr. Jonathan was not aware of this bid and did not authorize it. 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.
“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.
“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 said.