Aide says Jonathan knows nothing about group that bought him APC forms

A spokesman to former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan Monday night said the former leader does not have any affiliation with a group of people who bought the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms of the All Progressives Congress for him.

Jonathan was elected president in 2011 as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party.

There have been rumours that he would defect to the ruling APC and contest to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, who handed him a defeat at the polls in 2011.

The rumours became stronger earlier on Monday when a group said it has purchased the N100-million forms for him.

But his spokesman Ike Eze said the former president has no affiliation with the group.

“We wish to categorically state that Dr Jonathan was not aware of this bid and did not authorise it,” Eze said in a statement.

“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 any way, committed himself to this request.

“Buying a presidential aspiration form in the name of 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.”