Former President Goodluck Jonathan has rejected the N100 million expression of interest and nomination form of the All Progressive Congress (APC) purchased for him by his supporters.
Media reports Monday evening said a coalition of Northern groups purchased the form for the former president ousted from power by the ruling party in 2015.
Thereafter, speculations went rife that Mr Jonathan had dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC. It gained momentum when presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, attested to it in separate tweets.
But in a statement signed by Ikechukwu Eze, his media aide, the former president feigned ignorance of the development, describing it as an insult.
“It has come to our notice that a group has purportedly purchased Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms, of the All Progressives Congress APC, in the name of former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,” Mr Eze said early Tuesday morning.
“We wish to categorically state that Dr. Jonathan was not aware of this bid and did not authorize it.
“We want to state that if the former President wanted to contest an election, he would make his intentions clear to the public and will not enter through the back door.
“While we appreciate the overwhelming request by a cross-section of Nigerians, for Dr. Jonathan to make himself available for the 2023 Presidential election, we wish to state, that he has not in anyway, committed himself to this request. Buying a presidential aspiration form in the name Dr. Jonathan without his consent, knowing the position he had held in this country, is considered an insult to his person. The general public is therefore advised to disregard it,” the statement added.
