For a while now, there have been rumours about an alleged plot by some powers within the All Progressives Congress (APC), to bring former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ), to the party. According to rumours, the alleged defection plot could see GEJ emerge as APC’s 2023 Presidential candidate. Since the rumour emerged a couple of months ago, the former President has neither confirmed nor debunked it.
A couple of days ago, the former President reportedly had a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. The meeting has once again, fuelled the rumours of GEJ’s alleged defection plot from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the APC. Not long ago, the PDP alleged that it would be a big mistake for Jonathan to join the APC, while the APC maintained that the party would be glad to receive him into its ranks.
Amid the rumoured defection plot, there is also an alleged plot by some politicians from the South-south geopolitical zone, to support the former President to return to power for another term (source: The Nation Newspaper). With the rumours of the former President’s defection getting stronger by the day, the PDP recently reacted to it. Although the party appears to be unbothered, it is my view that the rumoured defection plot should be a source of concern for the PDP.
The reason for this is that the party which is still fighting to return to power in 2023, may find it more difficult to defeat the APC if it decides to field GEJ as its flag-bearer for the 2023 presidential election. Recall that since GEJ left office in 2015, millions of Nigerians have continued to admire him. As such, it may not be a difficult decision for many people to vote him in once again. This could impact negatively on the PDP’s quest to return to power in 2023.
Aside from this, the fact that the former President can only rule for a single term could see Northern political heavyweights throw their weight behind him. Recall that for a while now, the North and Southern regions have been at loggerheads over where the next President should come from. With the South seemingly favoured to take over the Presidency in 2023, supporting Goodluck Jonathan for only four years could be seen as the best alternative for the North.
With this in mind, one may not be wrong to say that the PDP could find it difficult to return to power in 2023, if Goodluck Jonathan’s rumoured defection to the APC, becomes a reality, and he also emerges as the APC’s presidential candidate for the 2023 election. As such, the party should be seen GEJ’s rumoured defection plan, as a source of concern. Do you agree with me on this? Let’s hear from you.
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