Amid Speculations, APC Says it Will Be Great to Welcome Goodluck Jonathan if He Ever Decides to Join Party

The All Progressive Congress (APC) has said it would gladly welcome former President Goodluck Jonathan from the opposition party which is the People’s Democratic Party, marking what could be the most high-profile defection in the country’s political history.

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, there have been wide speculations that the ex-president would leave the PDP for the ruling APC, particularly after some governors of the APC paid him a courtesy visit in November 2020.

The APC National Secretary, Mr. John James Akpanudoedehe when asked by Channels TV to confirm if Jonathan would defect to the party, he said, “I am hearing that for the first time that we are expecting the former president. That will be great news. We will welcome him; that will also strengthen the party.”

He, however, did not confirm if Mr Jonathan, a PDP member, would be its presidential candidate should he join the APC.

“The last National Executive Council (NEC) of the party actually gave a blanket approval to any individual that if you join APC today, it is as if you are a founding member of the party,” explained Mr Akpanudoedehe. “So, anyone who joins today has the same opportunity to run for any office in this party. It has always been so, so I am not speculating.”

Similarly, APC’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, said on Wednesday that the party would have a celebration should Mr Jonathan defect from PDP.

“As at this moment, there is nothing like that. If the former President Jonathan decides to join the APC, it can’t be a hidden event. We will naturally celebrate it,” The Guardian quoted Mr Nabena as saying.

#Peoples Gazette