2015: Buhari Reveals Reasons APC Must Choose A Consensus Candidate For Presidential Election Maj-Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (retd.) Maj-Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (retd.) Former Military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari has warned his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) to choose its Presidential candidate through consensus arrangement for the 2015 general election, rather than primaries. The Presidential primary of the APC has been fixed for December 2, with interested aspirants expected to pay N27.5 million for expression of interest and nomination form for the contest. Aside Buhari, former Vice President, Atiku Abubabakar has also expressed interest in the party’s ticket and has made an open declaration of this. Buhari’s call for a consensus candidate is coming shortly after, the former presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), last week, openly expressed his readiness to accept the result of the APC primary, even if he does not emerge as preferred candidate. However, Buhari in a statement by his campaign organisation, Buhari Vanguard, signed by its Chairman, Jasper Azuatalam, raised the alarm that party primary being planned by the APC will not produce the most qualified person as the party’s flag-bear, because money bags within the party may buy their way. According to the group, conducting the primary will also give room for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to successfully plant moles within the APC to prevent the best and strongest candidate from emerging to challenge the ruling party in the 2015 presidential contest. “After a detailed consideration of the Electoral Act, the APC constitution and other relevant laws relating to the emergence of a presidential candidate from a political party, we have come to the conclusion that consensus is the most viable, cost effective and unifying option available to the (APC). As an opposition political party that has promised to reduce corruption in Nigeria to its barest minimum, it will be in good faith to avoid an indirect primary election, which will cost so much money and even lead to financial inducement by some who still believe in “money politics” against credibility and popularity.” “In the same manner, an indirect primary will give the ruling political party an opportunity to infiltrate the All Progressive Congress by influencing delegates with money and planting moles within the delegates to influence who emerges as the presidential candidate of APC. This is because they know the candidate to beat in APC and they will do all within their reach to make sure that such candidate does not emerge as an APC presidential candidate. We also believe that the bitterness, rancour and disaffection that may arise from the contest will weaken the (APC) and give the (PDP) and undue advantage ahead of the 2015 presidential election.” “It is clear from all available statistics and parameters that the PDP has no locus standing in the 2015 presidential election as they will lose woefully in a free and fair contest because of their abysmal performance in government which has earned them the wrath of Nigerians” the statement said. Buhari in the statement defended the suitability of consensus arrangement saying both the APC constitution and the Electoral Act gives room for it as an acceptable means of selecting party candidate for elections. “A consensual arrangement as stipulated in Article 20 of APC Constitution and Section 87 (6) of the Electoral Act is surely the best option available for the All Progressive Congress APC.” “This will save the APC of unnecessary litigations, rancor and strife that accompanies presidential primaries. If the People Democratic Party with all the resources available to them and the power of incumbency is working towards a consensual arrangement by adopting Goodluck Jonathan, it will be wholly unwise and unintelligent for an opposition political party to want to sell the dangerous region,” the group stressed.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 06:24:09 +0000
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