CITIZENS COMPASS—Forner President, Good luck Ebele Jonathan, has met with the National chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), over the 2027 election.
The meeting also discussed the chances of the former president to return to Aso Rock.
The meeting was recently held in Abuja behind the closed door.
But the former president’s desire to secure the ticket of the coalition party may have experienced a hitch as Mark pointedly told him that the only way his dream of picking the party’s ticket could materialise was to formally join it and also take part in a ‘fair and transparent’ presidential primary.
With Jonathan failing to get a commitment from the party’s national chairman, both elder statesmen agreed to “meet soon to review the matter.”
According to a source, Jonathan’s audience with Mark could be an indication that the former president is “not keen on running on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”
A highly-placed source, who was privy to what transpired between Mark and Jonathan, said the ADC chairman ruled out an automatic ticket for any aspirant.
Mark’s response was said to be “not too convincing” for Jonathan and his strategists.
The source said:
“His host was pleased to welcome him to his residence. He told him to join ADC if he wants to contest. It was clear at the meeting that PDP is not a likely option because of the plethora of cases and infighting.
“So far, the only option for Jonathan is to join ADC. Mark was, however, quick to tell him that there will be a fair and transparent primary election.”
Asked of the meeting’s outcome, the source added:
“They would meet in due course to review the matter.”
Jonathan lost the 2015 presidential election to late former president Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but has since then taken a back seat politically, though he has been linked to presidential contest since 2023.
In the build up to the 2023 elections, a group was reported to have paid N100 million to obtain a form for him to participate in the APC presidential primary. However, GEJ, as Jonathan is fondly called, did not partake in the poll.
—The Nation
