*Says consultation ongoing on picking candidate for party
*President, Govs back Northern candidate
As the ruling All Progressives Congress gets set to elect its presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 elections, President Muhammadu Buhari has solicited the support of the party’s governors to enable him pick his preferred successor
The president, who met with the Progressive Governors at the presidential Villa, Tuesday in Abuja urged the governors to reciprocate his gesture, adding that they have always had the free hand to seek a second terms in office, as well as picking their preferred successors at the end of their tenures
The president’s request which was contained in his message to the Governors at the meeting, also noted that consultations have been ongoing, towards picking a candidate that would win the 2023 presidential election for the APC
President Muhammadu Buhari, who assured the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) that the party will present a candidate who would give the it a sense of victory and confidence, also tasked the APC Governors to align with the position of the party and ensure that the forthcoming convention to pick a presidential candidate reflects all the values and virtues of the party, disclosed that consultations are still ongoing to ensure that the APC picks a credible presidential candidate that can win the 2023 election for the party.
He assured that all aspirants would be carried along as the consultation continues in the days leading to the national convention, adding that the APC’s focus was to remain on the changing dynamics of the nation’s political environment, the expectations of the citizens and the global community even as he emphasized the need for internal cohesion and a strong leadership brand for the party to achieve bigger electoral fortunes.
“I am delighted to address this gathering of the Progressive Governors’ Forum as part of the consultative processes that have always strengthened the internal dynamics of our Party, the All Progressives Congress, (APC).
“The Party has since grown in strength and capacity to govern. The key to both electoral successes is the ability of the party to hold consultations and for its members to put the nation above other interests.
“The transition processes for the 2023 General Elections have commenced in earnest and I note that the most successful Political Parties globally have always relied on their internal cohesion and a strong leadership brand to achieve bigger electoral fortunes. Our party, the APC, shall not be any different, more so as we are still implementing the blueprint for a more prosperous nation.
“As I begin the final year of my second term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and leader of the Party, I recognize the compelling need for me to provide stronger leadership to the Party under this transition process and to ensure that it happens in an orderly manner.
“Such leadership is required so that the Party remains strong and united. It is also needed to improve our electoral fortunes by ensuring that it retains power at the center, hold the great majority in various legislative chambers and also gain additional number of states at state levels.”
Speaking further, the President noted that “In pursuit of the foregoing objectives, the Party has successfully established internal policies that promote continuity and smooth succession plans even at the state and local government levels. For example, first term Governors who have served credibly well have been encouraged to stand for re-election. Similarly, second term Governors have been accorded the privilege of promoting successors that are capable of driving their visions as well as the ideals of the party.
“In a few days, the Party will be holding its Convention during which primaries would take place to pick the Presidential Flag Bearer for the 2023 General Elections. This is a very significant process and its outcome should prove to the world, the positive quality of the APC regarding democratic principles, culture as well as leadership.
“As we approach the Convention, I appeal to all of you to allow our interests to converge, our focus to remain on the changing dynamics of our environment, the expectations of our citizens and the global community. Our objective must be the victory of our party and our choice of the candidate must be someone who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the elections.
“In keeping with the established internal policies of the Party and as we approach the Convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the Governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.
“I wish to assure you that the consultation process shall continue to ensure that all aspirants and stakeholders would be brought on board right through to the convention. This would also ensure that any anxiety, occasioned by different factors are effectively brought under control and that our party emerges stronger.” Buhari explained
Buhari, Govs settle for the Northern candidate
Meanwhile there are strong indications that President Muhammadu Buhari has received the support of the APC Governors to settle for a northerner as his preferred candidate for the party’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 general elections
With eight days to the Special National Convention of the All Progressives Congress, the president had appealed to the Governors to allow him to pick his preferred successor and the appeal has been granted by majority of the governors, mostly from the Northern zones of the country
The position of the president and governors to settle for a Northern Presidential candidate was revealed by a top chieftain of the party on Tuesday.
There are four northern APC Presidential aspirants. Including, Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello (North Central), Governor Abubakar Badaru (North West), President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan (North East) and former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Sani Yerima (North West).
The party source revealed that the APC is considering a candidate from North West for its Presidential ticket giving the fact that the zone produces the highest number of votes.
The ource argued that since the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged as the Presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), APC has been jittery. “But today, the Northern governors concluded with the President that the North must retain the APC Presidential ticket if the party must win,” he said.
The North West Geo-political zone where President Buhari comes from is said to have the highest number of voters, the reason APC is considering the zone.
“You are aware that President Muhammadu Buhari’s zone has the highest number of voters.
“The Presidential ticket of APC is not for sell but for somebody who can win election for the party.
“APC was hoping that the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike or somebody else from the South would have emerged so that APC can domicile its ticket in the South as well. But the emergence of Atiku Abubakar has changed that consideration.
“The President is also saying that the Governors should allow him to produce his successor since they were able to produce theirs.
“To actualise the Northern Presidential candidate, the President has directed the Northern Governors to talk to the Southern Governors on the platform of the need to support a Northerner.” The source disclosed further
The APC Governors were however locked in a meeting at the Kebbi state Governors lodge, in Abuja, immediately after the meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, apparently to discuss the outcome of their meeting with the President
Meanwhile, the screening of the AP Presidential aspirants continued yesterday at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.
Among those screened on Tuesday were: governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, governor of Ekiti, Dr. Kayodi Fayemi, former governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade and governor Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru.
