Now coast seems to be clear for former President Goodluck Jonathan as he finally defected from his former party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the 2023 presidential election.
Described as incompetent and incapable of finding solutions to Bolo Haram insurgency and other terrorist attacks on Nigeria, Jonathan in 2015 presidential election lost power to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.
And Jonathan, who on Monday visited the APC national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, had repeatedly denied being in the race and particularly rejected presidential expression of interest and nomination forms bought for him on May 9 by the nomadic Fulani pastoralists and Almajiri communities.
He reportedly described as an insult buying the presidential form for him by any group without his consent.
He has resolved to run under the APC, the former president’s very close ally, who would not want to be named, authoritatively informed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He disclosed that Jonathan has registered as a member of the APC at his Otuoke Ward in Bayelsa State.
Jonathan’s ally further disclosed that the former president would submit his completed APC expression of interest and nomination forms bought for him on Monday by some Northern groups.
The source said Jonathan already has blessings of the party’s notable leaders and support of the required number of APC delegates from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Though he did not mention names he said: “Several bigwigs of the party have also been calling Jonathan to pledge their loyalty and support to the former president.
“Even some influential African leaders on Monday called Jonathan 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.
“Some of the African leaders told Jonathan that Nigeria was passing through challenging times and needed a unifier like Jonathan at this time.”