Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, plans to return to the presidency, using the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as platform to actualise his renewed presidential ambition, Vanguard gathered authoritatively yesterday.
A top official in Jonathan’s team confirmed to newsmen that the decision to use the PDP followed extensive deliberation over where his chances were brighter in returning to power to provide quality leadership to the country, amid growing hardship and poverty.
This, however, drew reactions from stakeholders in the polity. While some said the former president had the constitutional right to aspire, others cautioned him against rubbishing his image in what they described as present murky politics in the country.
Among those who reacted yesterday were Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere; the Middle Belt Forum, MBF; the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN; SMBLF; founder of All Progressive Grand Alliance, Chief Chekwa Okorie; and former Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Akin Osuntokun.
But the confirmation of PDP as the channel Jonathn hopes to use to return to power, immediately opened a floodgate of struggle by entities believed to be pushing him to contest, to jostle for the purchase of his nomination form, which the factionalised party has pegged at N100 million.
The top official said the groups competing to purchase the nomination form for Jonathan were aware that the deadline for the submission of the form ends tomorrow and that they were determined to get the form for him.
The source said that a notable group, identified as the Goodluckan Movement, comprising Nigerians in the diaspora, was claiming the right to obtain the form for him, arguing that the movement was more representative of Nigerians across the world than the northern groups jostling for it.
The official listed some of the groups to include the Coalition for Jonathan, which has twice mobilised thousands of youths to rally in his office and urged him to pick a nomination form and run; the Goodies Movement, an online support group for Goodluck Jonathan; and the The New Nigeria, TNN, a mass-based movement with millions of members mostly in northern Nigeria.
Others are the Almajiri Network; Arewa for Good Governance; the Northern Youth Alliance for Good Governance; Northern Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan; the Arewa for Better Government; and the North Youth Progressive Movement.
The official claimed that each of the Jonathan support groups had pledged to raise the N100 million and purchase the form for him.
Vanguard learned that although the former president merely told the groups that beckoned on him to run in 2027 that he would consult widely before taking a final decision on the matter, Jonthan had since made up his mind to run, hoping to convince Nigerians to re-elect him to revamp the economy and reduce the level of hardship in the land.
The leader of the Jonathan support group, Dr. Tom Ohikere, had urged him to immediately pick a presidential nomination form of any party of his choice to contest the elections.
Following the calls by groups on Jonathan to run, there had been concerns as to which party platform he would use to pursue his ambition, a development which immediately prompted the Turaki-led PDP to issue a statement confirming he had fulfilled the necessary conditions to fly the party’s flag.
The PDP spokesman, Mr. Ini Ememobong, confirmed that Dr. Jonathan had earlier in the year fulfilled his online registration with the PDP and dispelled the swirling rumours of his political party membership as no denial had come from his media team or any of his close associates.
Recall that in 2022, a Northern almajiri group obtained a N100m APC form for Goodluck Jonathan, which made headlines but which he later disowned the group and the form was never submitted.
But as an indication of his seriousness to run in 2027, Jonathan has approached a Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge a lawyer who asked the court to bar him from running again, claiming he had since served two terms.
The case will determine whether Jonathan has any chance of challenging the incumbent and returning to Aso Rock.
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