Former President Goodluck Jonathan is not on the list of presidential aspirants expected to be screened by the All Progressives Congress (APC), although a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State last Friday declared that Jonathan is eligible and “constitutionally” qualified to contest for president in 2023.
In his judgment, Justice Hamma Adama Dashen said 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.
In 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the fourth alteration of the 1999 Constitution which bars 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 later won the 2011 presidential election but lost his attempt to secure another term in office in 2015.
However, his name is missing from the list of 23 presidential aspirants released by the APC.
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