Goodluck and Emefiele's presidential aspirations in doubt amid fears their forms were not submitted

FORMER president Dr Goodluck Jonathan and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele look to be out of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential race after their supporters failed to submit their nomination forms on time.

Both Dr Jonathan and Mr Emefiele had their expression of interest and nomination forms bought for them by interest groups. However, neither of these different groups who bought the forms for them completed or submitted at the close of deadline for the submission of forms yesterday.

Although no reason was given for the development, one a reliable source said that the whole process surrounding the participation of the former president in the race as a consensus candidate of the party, had been enmeshed in uncertainty and controversy. He added that this left Dr Jonathan with no choice but to opt out.

As per Mr Emefiele, he was said to have taken no further action after his lawyer sought the interpretation of court on the electoral law. He wanted to know if section 84(12) that compels appointees to resign before contesting elections affected him or not.

With regards to Dr Jonathan, it was learnt that some key loyalists who could have given him the nod to go ahead with the race, had since become convinced that it would not be possible for the APC to concede the ticket to him. Thos was due to the mood in the party and the body language of its leaders.

In addition, Dr Jonathan’s backers, it was also gathered, had also not been forthcoming with details of how they intended to push through with his candidature given the array of other presidential aspirants who are laying claim to being anointed by the powers-that-be. Also Dr Jonathan's  circle of friends were convinced that the renewed moves by some hawks within the APC to throw open the presidential ticket as is being done by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, would also not favour their leader.

These friends therefore, advised Dr Jonathan to steer clear of the muddy political water and keep his head high as a former president. Dr Jonathan's close associates are not certain if the nomination forms were submitted or not.