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Jonathan 2023: APC Speaks Out On Ex-President Joining Party

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The All Progressives Congress, APC, has broken silence on the reports that former President, Goodluck Jonathan has joined forces with the party.

There have been ongoing rumours that Jonathan who is of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dumped the opposition to join the nation’s ruling party in a bid to contest in the 2023 presidential election.

The claims were, however, denied in a statement on Wednesday by the Jonathan camp.

When contacted for a reaction, the former president’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze said there is no truth in the defection rumours.

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He added that his principal is very busy with other activities and should he decide to defect, it will be communicated through appropriate channels, and not the rumour mill.

“The report is Fake News, if he defects it would be announced through the proper channels.

“This is a man that’s very busy with other things,” he said.

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Reacting to the ongoing rumours in another statement on Wednesday, APC said it would welcome the former President should he consider joining the party.

National Secretary of the party, Senator John Akpanudoedehe said this while answering questions on a Channels Television Political Programme, Politics Today.

Akpanudoedehe said like every other new entrant, Goodluck Jonathan if he eventually joined APC, would enjoy the rights and privileges extended to all members of the party.

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According to him, the joining date of any new member won’t be a determinant for contesting any post.

Responding to a question on whether APC are truly wooing Jonathan to join the ruling party to become its Presidential standard bearer for 2023, Akpanudoedehe said, “I don’t want to speculate.”

He added: “Everyone is allowed to join the APC, we welcome everyone who wants to join. We are getting stronger in terms of our progressive agenda. I’m hearing that for the first time, if he comes, we will welcome him, that will be great news.

“The last National Executive Committee meeting gave a blanket approval to everyone who wants to join the party and anyone who joins the party has the right to aspire for any office.”

Akpanudoedehe also said the party was expecting more governors from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to join the APC before December.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan who was also contacted on the speculations said, “Speculations that our former President and some of our governors are joining the APC remain what they are, speculations that exist in the figment of the imagination of the authors of such baseless speculations.”