Goodluck's name missing from list as APC begins screening its presidential candidates

FORMER president Dr Goodluck Jonathan's name is not among the list of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates who are going to be screened over the next two days as the party begins the process of selecting a presidential nominee.

Earlier this month, Dr Jonathan had been at the centre of the process after it was revealed that he was going to run and the Miyetti Cattle Allah Breeders Association of Nigeria (Macban) had bought the N100m form on his behalf. Since then, Dr Jonathan has visited the APC chairman senator Abdullahi Adamu and President Muhammadu Buhari's nephew Mamman Daura, raising hopes that he will stand.

Today, however, the APC announced that its screening programme will begin, starting with former Lagos State governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Over the next two days, a total of 23 candidates will be screened at a top hotel in Abuja, including vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo but Dr Jonathan's name is missing from the list.

Other candidates on the list include the senate president Senator Ahmed Lawan and former ministers Rotimi Amaechi, Ogbonnaya Onu, Godswill Akpabio and Chukwuemeja Nwajiuba. Serving governors who are also listed for the screening include Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa).

Others are former senate president Ken Nnamani, former House of Representatives speaker Dimeji Bankole and serving Senators Ibikunle Amosun, Ajayi Boroffice, and Rochas Okorocha. President Buhari’s running mate in 2011 Pastor Tunde Bakare, Uju Ken-Ohanenye, Nicholas Felix, Ahmad Rufai Sani, Tein Jack-Rich, Ikeobasi Mokelu are also expected to face the screening panel.

Earlier today, Salihu Lukman, the APC's  national vice chairman, northwest, said Dr Jonathan is not yet a member of the party. He added:  “Jonathan is not a member of the APC as far as this party is concerned.

"Jonathan is not a member of APC as far as we know. Besides, our membership in the political party is not a secret. Feel free to quote me please."

According to some unconfirmed reports, Jonathan was considered as a consensus candidate by the APC leadership. Last Friday, a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, had ruled that the former president is eligible to contest the 2023 presidential election.