APC vice chair insists Jonathan can’t get party’s ticket

APC vice chair says ‘anybody who is talking about it is just talking nonsense’

By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor

Goodluck Jonathan is not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and even if he smuggles himself in at the eleventh hour, he still cannot get the party’s presidential ticket, says APC National Vice Chairman (North West) Salihu Lukman.

“I can tell you this straight away. Jonathan is not a member of the APC as far as this party is concerned. What is being discussed in the media is very strange to many of us.

“We are not even aware that anybody has bought forms in the name of Jonathan and we have closed the sale of forms,” Lukman said.

There are media reports that the Aso Rock cabal headed by Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura, is bent on making Jonathan the consensus candidate of the APC, a condition Jonathan reportedly gave to join the party.

Lukman poured cold water on the idea.

He said: “All those media speculations, yes we know everything can be possible in this country. But as far as this party is concerned, and some of us are there in critical structure, that is not going to be possible.

“You can quote me on this that I said it is not going to be possible. Anybody who is talking about it is just talking nonsense.”

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No consensus candidate

When Lukman was reminded that some officials of APC and in the Villa are keen on Jonathan’s candidacy, he insisted it is not possible.

“I am not aware whether the Chairman or any member of the National Working Committee makes such a statement. But where such a statement was made, it must have been done out of error. It is not possible.

“Jonathan is not a member of APC as far as we know. Besides, our membership in the political party is not a secret. Feel free to quote me please,” he told The PUNCH.

Lukman denied media reports that the APC has settled for a consensus presidential candidate, saying the party will give all aspirants a level playing field.

Jonathan has not officially resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under which platform he was President from 2010 to 2015.

A Federal High Court in Yenagoa ruled on 27 May that he is eligible to contest the 2023 presidential election.

Judge Isa Dashen held that his right to run for President again cannot be stopped by any retroactive law.

The APC presidential primary is scheduled for 6 and 7 June.