Contrary to swirling speculations, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it has no plan to field former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate in 2023.

Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was president from 2010 to 2015 when he lost to incumbent Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.

There were reports last week that some Northern APC Governors who visited Jonathan last week assured him of the party’s ticket in 2023 if he takes the offer.

However, Chairman of APC National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni, cleared the air on the reports in an interview with Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Wednesday.

Buni, who is also Yobe State governor, said it would be a new discussion entirely whether Jonathan would even be welcomed if he eventually indicates interest.

According to the Governor: “Those peddling such information are afraid. But for now, there is nothing in the APC which has anything to do with the aspiration for 2023.

“Even if someone wants to base assumption on our recent visit to him during his birthday, we were there because of his status as a former president of Nigeria.

“Again, even when we are talking of peaceful coexistence, we must give credit to former President Jonathan on the issue of peace.

“How he accepted defeat in 2015 and resigned to fate. That has qualified him to be a statesman and he is now among our fathers.”