President Muhammadu Buhari deliberately delayed the screening of presidential aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who have purchased and returned their Expression of interest and Nomination forms in order to accommodate former President, Goodluck Jonathan, Daily Independent has exclusively gathered.
A Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, will today rule on the eligibility of Jonathan to contest the presidential election.
APC had fixed the screening of the presidential aspirants on Monday, May 23, 2022, but it was later postponed indefinitely.
If cleared by the court to contest, Jonathan, who has been given a waiver by the APC leadership led by its national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu will participate in the screening exercise and the primary slated for Sunday.
A fortnight ago, the leadership of the APC in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State had confirmed that Jonathan is a registered member of the party.
The chairman of APC in Ogbia ward 13, Mr Igori Freeman said Jonathan, who is yet to announce his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) registered as a member of APC since 2019.
Speaking with our correspondent, a chieftain of the APC who asked not to be named said President want Jonathan to participate in the primary.
” President Muhammadu Buhari is still plotting for Jonathan to participate in the primaries. He deliberately delayed the APC screening to accommodate the court ruling today”.
“If the ruling is favourable, Jonathan will be screened and having been granted a waiver, he will participate in Sunday’s primary”.
