Former President Goodluck Jonathan is not on the list of Presidential aspirants expected to be screened by the All Progressives Congress (APC) beginning today Monday.
The former president is not on the list despite a judgment delivered by a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Friday that the former President is eligible and “constitutionally” qualified to contest for president in 2023.
Justice Hamma Adama Dashen who delivered the judgment ruled that Jonathan is not affected by the fourth alteration to the constitution barring Vice-Presidents who succeed their principals from serving more than one full term.
Jonathan was Nigeria’s vice-president between 2007 and 2010. He became the president in May 2010 following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and completed the latter’s tenure. He won the 2011 presidential election but lost his attempt to secure a second term in office in 2015.
Earlier in May, a Northern group has purchased the Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms for Jonathan.
APC spokesman, Felix Morka had said 28 presidential forms were purchased, but three persons; Chris Ngige, minister of labour; Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum: and Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) — did not submit their forms.
Also, a form was purchased on behalf of the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina who had said he was not interested in contesting.
Below are the names of the presidential aspirants for screening as listed by APC;
Chukwuemeja Uwaezuoke Nwajiuba
Badaru Abubakar
Robert A. Boroffice
Uju Ken-Ohanenye
Nicholas Felix
Nweze David Umahi
Ken Nnamani
Gbolahan B. Bakare
Ibikunle Amosun
Ahmed B. Tinubu
Ahmad Rufai Sani
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi
Oladimeji Sabon Bankole
John Kayode Fayemi
Godswill Obot Akpabio
Yemi Osinbajo
Rochas Anayo Okorocha
Yahaya Bello
Tein Jack-Rich
Christopher Onu
Ahmad Lawan
Ben Ayade
Ikeobasi Mokelu