Former President Goodluck Jonathan was absent on Saturday as members of the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), gathered at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja to elect its presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections.
Jonathan was not seen at the venue even though his name and picture were on the PDP convention programme.
Recall that Jonathan was elected president on the platform of the PDP in 2011 before he was defeated in 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former president has, however, distanced himself from the various activities of the party fueling speculations that Jonathan is planning to recontest the presidency on the platform of the APC.
However, Jonathan’s aide has confirmed that the former president has not resigned his PDP membership.
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, met with Jonathan behind closed doors at his Abuja’s residence with a view to “strengthening the family ties of the PDP”.
The duo were said to have discussed issues surrounding the fate of the Peoples Democratic Party and the 2023 general election.