Some protesters on Friday stormed the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja to demand the adoption of former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s consensus candidate.
Recall that a Northern group had purchased the N100 million nomination and expression of interest forms of the ruling party for Jonathan.
Jonathan, however, distanced himself from the form of the ruling party, stating that it was gotten without his knowledge.
The plan to field Jonathan was reportedly started in 2020 by the Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, CECPC, with plans for the former leader to serve one term while power returns to the North.
It is understood that two northern governors and some close aides of the president were fingered in a plot to make Jonathan the consensus candidate of the ruling party.
However, it was learned that the plan to field Jonathan as the APC consensus candidate failed following the dissolution of the defunct CECPC.
Addressing journalists on Friday, Umar Waja, speaking on behalf of the group, said Jonathan would steer the country to the “promised land” if elected president.
He said: “We are calling on President Buhari and the national working committee (NWC) under the distinguished leadership of senator Abdullahi Adamu to adopt Goodluck Jonathan as their consensus candidate for the betterment of this country.
“We saw what he did during the last six years when he was piloting the affairs of this country. We need him at this crucial time because Nigeria needs to be united and we believe that he will be the only person that will unite this country so that he will take us to the promised land to where we ought to be and where we should be.
“Mr President has made it clear that as far the governors are concerned they have adopted their own concept of bringing out their successors so they should also allow him to bring his successor that is why we want Mr President to bring in Jonathan as the consensus candidate.
“At this crucial time, we know Jonathan will lead this country very well. If Jonathan is the consensus candidate, he will win the election convincingly.”
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