2023: No automatic ticket for Jonathan if he joins us – APC

*Says its statement on ex-president misconstrued

Tom Okpe, Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has informed that there will be no automatic ticket for former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan if he joins the ruling party, saying that its earlier statement was misconstrued.

Goodluck Jonathan was President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 6th May 2010 to 29th May, 2015.

He is still a member of the PDP, has been insinuated of planning to defect to the ruling party.

Gale of defection has rocked the opposition party of late with the recent being Femi Fani Kayode, former Minister of Aviation.

According to the APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) Secretary, John James Akpanudoede, in a statement in Abuja on Friday, titled: Clarification; “APC NEC December 2020 Resolution Grants Waiver to ALL New Party Entrants”, the party said comments on former President Goodluck Jonathan was “misrepresented.”

The statement reads: “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.

“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.”

“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, including the interviewee.

“By NEC resolution, new members will enjoy all the benefits and privileges accruable by virtue of their membership of the APC.”

Recall that the APC NEC resolution of 8th December, 2020 approved the granting of waivers to persons who have 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.