Former President Goodluck Jonathan secretly joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, in September 2021, falling for the bait of the cabal out to make him President for just four years so a Northerner could take over in 2027.
Jonathan served as Nigeria’s President from May 5, 2010, to May 29, 2015, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. This comprises the time he was sworn in from vice president to president after Umaru Musa Yar’Adua passed away, to when he was elected President in 2011 where he served one term.
He told his supporters in April to “watch out” for his moves for a possible return.
He issued a statement on Monday to dissociate himself from the N100 million APC nomination form bought for him by Northern Fulani cattle rearers and Almajiris. He said he did not authorise the purchase.
Yet, he met on Monday night with APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu to get a guarantee of a consensus option that will make him the party’s candidate in 2023.
The PUNCH has reported that Jonathan secretly joined the APC in September 2021 and has been a card-carrying member of the party since then. A report that The Trent has confirmed through sources in Aso Rock.
Before the latest development, he was said to have been in talks with senior Presidency officials who reportedly assured him of the APC ticket if he defected to the party from the PDP.
He reportedly sought assurances that he would be given certain waivers, including being adopted as the consensus candidate by the APC in the 2023 presidential election.
Under the deal, Jonathan would rule for a single term of four years and hand over power to his Vice President who would be a Northerner.
Jonathan has neither denied nor confirmed the deal.
A motley crowd of about 30 aspirants are vying for the APC ticket, 28 of whom obtained the N100 million nomination form, fetching the party N2.8 billion.
According to The Nation, Adamu told Jonathan at their meeting on Monday night that he could not guarantee he would be the automatic candidate for the APC. Adamu welcomed him to the party and assured him of a level playing field.
Jonathan’s sudden jostling in the APC unnerves other aspirants from the South-South about the plan of President Muhammadu Buhari. The aspirants include Rotimi Amaechi, transportation minister; Godswill Akpabio, now resigned Niger Delta Affairs minister; and Timipreye Sylva, petroleum resources minister of state.
Most South-South aspirants who had boasted of Buhari’s support are shocked by the Jonathan card.
“There was no commitment from Adamu on automatic consensus ticket for Jonathan.
“He came in at night on Monday to see the APC Chairman in his residence on his likely bid for the ticket of the party,” a source recounted.
“Adamu threw the party’s doors open and avoided making any commitment on Jonathan being a consensus candidate. But he assured him of a level-playing field. This was what transpired.
“I am sure Jonathan might be looking at options available to him. So far, only Jonathan knew what he had discussed with Buhari during his past shuttles to him in the Villa.
“If those shuttles emboldened Jonathan to take the risk of joining the jostle for the presidential slot of APC, the national chairman of APC won’t have known.
“As far as the situation is now, Jonathan is gambling like most of the aspirants.”
“Let’s see how it goes. With this development, no one knows the mindset of the President,” one of the aspirants said:
An aide to another aspirant added: “Could the President and some of his handlers have forgotten the bitter struggle for power in 2015?
“What would have informed the dragging of Jonathan into this race? Are some people in the Presidency up to a game? We are all keeping our fingers crossed.”
