2023:Abati, Omokri disagree on Jonathan’s defection to APC

.It’s impossible for him to run – Omokri

.’He’ll contest’

A former presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, has confirmed that his ex-principal, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is set to join the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Abati said Jonathan would thereafter declare for presidency on the platform of the ruling party.

The former president, who was defeated by the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had given the APC a set of conditions towards consummating his candidature.

Specifically, Jonathan, who is believed to be one of the preferred aspirants, had indicated that he would only join the party if he would get the presidential ticket seamlessly to run for president in 2023.

As a prelude to the crystallisation of the Jonathan-for- president project, some protesters had stormed the Abuja private office of the former president last week, asking him to declare for presidency.

Jonathan, while addressing the protesters, had said he could not confirm yet if he would contest but said a political process was ongoing and that they should watch out.

However, Abati in a post on his verified Facebook page said Jonathan had accepted to join the APC to pursue his presidential ambition.

In a swift reaction , Reno Omokri, a former media aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan has debunked reports that his former boss would soon declare to run for the 2023 presidential elections.

Reports had earlier emerged that Jonathan, whose poster surfaced in some parts of the country recently, would soon join the presidential race.

The former president had while addressing his supporters who protested at his Abuja residence asking him to declare, said he “can’t tell” whether to run yet, asking them to be on the lookout.

Meanwhile, a post by Reno Omokri on his official Facebook page on Sunday urged Nigerians to a comment by the Arise TV’s “The Morning Show” presenter, Reuben Abati that Jonathan would soon declare.

According to Reno, the former Nigerian leader has not made such a statement, saying it was the imagination of the journalist.

He said, “Disregard the news credited to Reuben Abati that former President Jonathan will soon declare. He never made any statement like that. At best, it is a figment of the imagination of that journalist #FakeNews!”