The All Progressives Congress, APC says former President Goodluck Jonathan will be given an opportunity to contest for the 2023 presidency if he joins the ruling party.

The National Secretary, APC Caretaker, and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, John Akpanudoedehe, said this while featuring as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.

He said this when asked about the speculations that Jonathan is considering to join the ruling party.

The APC official also said the ex-president will be granted a founding member status if he joins.

He, however, said the opportunity that will be given to Jonathan is not automatic, noting that he would compete with other members of the party before getting the ticket.

Akpanudoedehe said, “I am hearing that for the first time that we are expecting the former President. That will be great news. We will welcome him; that will also strengthen the party.

“The last National Executive Council of the party actually gave a blanket approval to any individual that if you join APC today, it is as if you are a founding member of the party.

“So, anyone who joins today has the same opportunity to run for any office in this party. It has always been so, so I am not speculating,” he added.

Reacting, Reno Omokri says “God Forbid”.

The former Presidential aide while fielding questions from his followers on Facebook on the speculations, said God would forbid that such thing would ever happen.

He went on to describe Jonathan as an honourable man who will never consider bringing such shame on the good name he has made.

”God forbid that such a thing should ever happen. However, if it should happen (it will NOT!), is it on Twitter you will see it or CNN?

”This man is more than an honourable man. He is a specimen of a gentleman. He is 63 years old and throughout his life, he has only ever been in one party.

”The best judge of future behaviour is past behaviour. APC celebrates when even a councillor joins their useless party.

”How will a former President, especially one with the juice that HE Jonathan has, join that contraption of backwardness, and you will not see APC dancing naked for joy? God gave us common sense. Let’s use it!” He wrote.

Chairman of the Caretaker/ Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress, Mai Mala Buni, and some APC governors had unprecedently visited the ex-President in November 2020.

But the Peoples Democratic Party at that time dispelled reports that Jonathan was about to dump the party for the APC ahead of the 2023 elections.