Jonathan absent as PDP elects presidential candidate

Goodluck Jonathan, a former president of Nigeria who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was absent on Saturday as the party members gathered at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja to elect its presidential candidate.

Even though his name and picture were on the convention programme, the ex-president was not seen at the venue.

Jonathan was president between 2010 and 2015 before he was defeated by President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

But in the last few years, the former president has distanced himself from the various activities of the party.

Ahead of the current political activities, speculations have been rife that the former president is planning to re-contest the presidency on the platform of the APC.

Since defeating him in 2015, the relationship between Buhari and Jonathan has been cordial, fueling a political romance that might lead to him (Buhari) handing over to Jonathan as his successor.  (Daily Trust)