APC spokesman says it is likely Goodluck and Adeshina's nomination forms were submitted

UNCERTAINTY sill surrounds the presidential application forms of former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan and that of African Development Bank (AfDB) president Dr Akinwunmi Adeshina after it appears that they were both submitted.

Earlier this month, All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination forms were acquired for both men at a cost of N100m without their knowledge. Since the news went public, they both said they were honoured but would not be accepting the nominations and would not be running for president.

However, according to the APC's national publicity secretary Felix Morka, a total of 25 forms were filled and submitted. He pointed out that 28 were collected in total and the three that were not submitted belonged to labour minister Chris Ngige, petroleum minister Timipre Sylva and Central bank of Nigeria governor Godwin Emefiele.

This implies that the forms of Dr Jonathan and Dr Adeshina have been submitted and the names of both men will be on the ballot paper when the APC conducts its primaries. Dr Jonathan's case is a lot more complicated after rumours emerged that he recently joined the APC in his native Bayelsa State.

Mr Morka said: “For some of them, it’s a bit iffy. What I have this time, we’ve 28 who purchased form and at the last count, we have 25 who made submission. However, three of them did not and they are Senator Chris Ngige, Godwin Emefiele and then we have Timipre Sylva.”

Although Dr Adesina maintained that he is not running for president, it is not clear if those who bought the forms have the capacity to fill them by themselves and also submit them. There is speculation that the APC postponed the screening of its presidential aspirants to May 23 to allow Dr Jonathan and others to submit their nomination forms.

Dr Jonathan had said he did not authorise the APC presidential nomination form purchased for him by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association. He added that he had no link to the northern coalition that purchased the form and admonished those behind the charade to desist from further defacing his name and urged Nigerians to disregard it.

However,  barely 48 hours after dissociating himself from moves by some groups to draft him into the 2023 presidential race, Jonathan reportedly joined the APC in Bayelsa and finally made up his mind to vie for the top post. He also met with the APC chairman at his Abuja residence.