2023: APC moves presidential primary to May 29

 

.We’re not aware of Jonathan’s interest in  presidential race -Party

 

Obiora Ifoh, Abuja

 

The All Progressives Congress, APC has said it is not aware if former President Goodluck Jonathan is in the race for party’s presidential ticket for the 2023 election.

 

The party also said that it has readjusted its time table for both the party primaries and the convention.

 

Speaking to news men Wednesday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary,  Barrister Felix Morka gave no reason why the party is changing its earlier timetable.

 

He said, “We have a very quick announcement to make this afternoon regarding the timetable for our primaries, just today, Wednesday, the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress has approved a revised timetable schedule of activities for House of Assembly, National Assembly, governorship primaries and appeals that arise from that.

 

“Our governorship and House of Representatives primary election will now take place on Thursday the 26th of May 2022.

 

“The Senate and House of Assembly primaries will now take place on Friday to the 27th of May 2022.

 

“The election appeals for governorship and the House of Representatives will now take place on Friday, the 27th of May 2022.

 

“While the appeals for the Senate and House of Assembly primaries will take place on Saturday the 28th of May 2022.

 

“While special convention and presidential primary will now take place between Sunday the 29th and Monday 30th of May 2022.”

 

Asked if the former President Goodluck Jonathan is among the aspirants that will be partaking in the party’s primaries, the Morka said, “I’m not aware.”

 

On the mode of election decided by the party for the primaries, he said “that will be contained in the guidelines that we’re just about to issue.”

 

He also said that the party did not discuss about the contentious zoning arrangement by the party.

 

Meanwhile, a group, Save Nigeria Ambassador Project (SNAP), has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to adopt former President Goodluck Jonathan as a consensus candidate of the party.

 

The group’s National Coordinator, Mr Jazeel Ibrahim, made the call at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

 

SNAP is a group loyal to President Muhammdu Buhari, whose goal is to support and promote credible, competent, intelligent and visionary leaders with the capacity to reform, rebrand and transform the political landscape of Nigeria.

 

“We wish to call on Mr President and APC to look inward and single out Jonathan from the hustling crowd of aspirants canvassing for the office of the president of Nigeria, as candidate to fly the flag of the APC in 2023 presidential election.

 

“Jonathan has established himself as a true democrat, a peace ambassador and patriotic Nigerian who stands for the unification for and cementing the  already fragmented pieces called Nigeria as one indivisible Nation.

 

“He is one who has the interest of Nigerians at heart, as exemplified in 2015, when he  shelved his personal ambition to avert a looming crisis, declaring that his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian,’ ’he said.

 

Ibrahim, however, said that the former president has a high level of integrity and credibility and is sound academically to revamp and revive any ailing economy.

 

According to him, “we hereby appeal to Mr President and the leadership of the APC to field him, as the consensus presidential flag bearer in the 2023 election.

 

He also noted that as the former president of the most populous black country in the world, he had promoted democratic values and principles, peace and national security.

 

He also said that Jonathan made major contributions to the political, economic and social development of Nigeria through Transformation Agenda.

 

The SNAP’s national coordinator also said Jonathan supersedes and outweighs every other aspirants, cementing his position as the most notable, valuable and viable politician from the entire southern region.

 

“His return as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will usher in an era of recovery, advancement and sustainable development  for the country,’ ’he said.