The Chairman said APC is open and willing to receive the former president into their fold.

“The Chairman, Bayelsa chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Dennis Otiotio, has disclosed that former President Goodluck Jonathan is not a registered member of the party but will be welcomed if he wants to join.

Otiotio disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

He spoke against the backdrop of moves to draft Jonathan into the 2023 presidential race, saying that the APC in Bayelsa was not aware of Jonathan’s membership.

“The former president is not yet a registered member of APC. He is free to join any party of his choice.

“We are open and willing to receive him into our fold, as a political party desirous of winning elections, the only way to go is by admitting people into the party,” Otiotio said.

Miyetti Allah had on Monday in Abuja, purchased the APC presidential nomination and expression of interest forms for the former president to contest the 2023 elections on the APC platform.

However, in a statement by Mr Ikechukwu Eze, Media Adviser to Jonathan on Monday night, the former president dissociated himself from the move and said that Jonathan did not authorise the purchase of the form.

According to the statement, Jonathan was not consulted on the procurement of the APC nomination in his name and rejected it.