A coalition of Northern groups arrived at the International Conference Centre in Abuja on Monday to purchase presidential nomination and expression of interest forms for former President Goodluck Jonathan from the All Progressives Congress.
Members of the coalition, sporting fez caps with the inscription “Run Jonathan Run,” asserted that Jonathan is the most qualified candidate to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
Although Jonathan is not a member of the APC, in recent weeks rumours have intensified that he will switch from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC in order to run for president in 2023.
Addressing calls for him to contest in April, Jonathan had told a crowd of supporters to “watch out”.
“Yes, you are calling me to come and declare for the 2023 presidency, yes I can’t tell I am declaring; the political process is ongoing, just watch out,” he said at the time.
If elected as President again, Jonathan can only serve for one term of four years, according to the constitution.
He was first elected in 2011 after completing the tenure of his former boss, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
President Buhari defeated Jonathan in the 2015 presidential elections.