2023: Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan Dispels Defection Rumour

By Chioma Iruke

Spokesman to former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Ike Eze, has debunked rumours that the former President is on the verge of jumping boat into the abode of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

When contacted on phone, Eze told The Heritage Times that the allegations were unfounded and baseless, insisting that Jonathan does not harbor such intensions.

“It’s fake news, they are spreading rumours. From yesterday till now, we didn’t react because it was fake news and there’s no need for any reaction,” he said.

It would be recalled that an APC chieftain, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe, who appeared as guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, said they were expecting the former President’s defection into their fold, saying it will strengthen the party’s structure.

Akpanudoedehe 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.

“The last National Executive Council (NEC) of the party actually gave blanket approval to any individual that if you join APC today, it is as if you are a founding member of the party.

“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.”

Also. Chairman of the Caretaker/ Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the APC, Mai Mala Buni, and some APC Governors had unprecedentedly visited the ex-President in November 2020.

But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at that time dispelled reports that Jonathan was about to dump the party for the APC ahead of the 2023 elections.

Jonathan took over as Nigeria’s President after the death of ex-President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on May 5, 2010.

The former Bayelsa Governor and Yar’Adua ran under the platform of the PDP in 2007.

After winning the 2011 Presidential poll, Jonathan’s re-election bid was dashed as he lost to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC in 2015.