Presidency 2023: APC shocks Jonathan

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has shocked former President Goodluck Jonathan whose speculated plan to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC has dominated public discourse in the past few days. The planned defected was associated with the desire for the APC presidential ticket for the 2023 general elections.

Former President Jonathan was alleged to have been under pressure from APC leaders in northern Nigeria to defect from the PDP to the APC. The terms of the defection negotiation, according to some members of the ruling party, was indicated with arrangements to deliver the APC 2023 presidential ticket to Jonathan, who in the calculation of the northern APC leader, would be serving for one tenure after the expiration of the eight years two tenures of President Buhari, and power may return to the north.    However, the National Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, in a statement on Friday, sent a warning signal to the former president that there will be no automatic ticket for any party member, old and new members, aspiring for the APC ticket to contest any elective position in 2023.

Akpanudoedehe was caught in the political net of confusion when he earlier said defectors to the ruling APC would be granted “founding member status” and could contest election on the party’s platform. The interim  national secretary had stated that the party will welcome former President Jonathan with delight, disclosing the waiver awaiting his defection from the PDP.

Akpanudoedehe, however, explained on Friday that, “The waiver is definitely not specific to anyone as being misconstrued and misrepresented in some sections.

“Coming into the party gives no one special status of being an automatic party candidate in any election. All aspirants must undergo the nomination processes outlined by the APC constitution.”

Akpanudoedehe had referred to the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) resolution of December 8, 2020, declaring: “the committee granted waivers to persons who recently joined the party and those desirous of joining the party in the nearest future to contest for positions in the APC and as party flag bearers in general elections.”

He maintained: “…New members will enjoy all the benefits and privileges accruable by virtue of their membership of the party.

“So, they will be able to contest for positions in the party.

“They will be able to contest elections without any requirement of being members for a number of years or period of time.”

Akpanudoedehe further clarified: “For the records, in my recent television interview reaction to the rumoured plans by former President Goodluck Jonathan to join the APC, my statement was that NEC resolution was a blanket waiver to all new APC entrants.”

He reiterated that new members – by the NEC resolution – will enjoy all the benefits and privileges accruable by virtue of their membership of the party.

Akpanudoedehe had celebrated that the defection of Jonathan to the APC will be a big advantage to the party.

Meanwhile, the speculated negotiation of northern APC leader with former President Jonathan has bot been dispelled. The promise for the 2023 presidential ticket has also not been dismissed by the stakeholders involved in the inducement and horse trading.