Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu, a former aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) will fail if it fields former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election.

“… We cannot as a party say Jonathan should come and pick our presidential ticket when we have better candidates in our midst. That will mean we have failed,” the staunch APC member warned.

Issuing this warning in a statement on Wednesday, the party chieftain described those moving for the candidature of Mr Jonathan as enemies of the party.

He said party members pushing for Mr Jonathan’s candidacy were doing the party a great disservice.

“Those moving for the candidature of a former president, Goodluck Jonathan, for the 2023 presidential elections under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are doing a great disservice to the party,” he said.

He suggested that the party had credible individuals from the South that could succeed president Muhammadu Buhari.

The party chieftain listed Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajuiba, and Vice president Yemi Osinbajo, as better alternatives to Mr Jonathan’s candidacy.

His comments come amidst increased call for southern presidency. Governors from the southern states of Nigeria had in July 2021 demanded that the region produces the country’s next president.

The governors, irrespective of their different political parties unanimously agreed that the presidency seat be alternated between the northern and southern region, adding that the next president must come from the South in the spirit of equity and fairness.