Emergence of APC presidential candidate will be transparent –Mohammed March 30, 2014 Interim National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed in this interview with Senior Correspondent, EKENE OKORO, says the party will adopt transparent process for the emergence of its candidates for elective positions ahead of the 2015 general elections. Excerpts: Mohammed There are reports suggesting that the APC has settled for General Mohammadu Buhari as its candidate for the 2015 presidential elections. Can you confirm this? I cannot say anything on it; you can’t get my comments on this issue. So, what would be the process for the presidential candidate of the APC to emerge? We are going to advertise our guidelines. You see, congresses will be held starting from next week Saturday, culminating to the national convention. Once the national convention is concluded, new executives will now come out with guidelines in conformity with our constitution. That’s how the candidates for the various elective posts will emerge. But, are there plans by the party to adopt a consensus candidate or will it opt for primaries? I can assure you of the primaries and we would be transparent in whatever we do. After the last presidential election in Nigeria in 2011, General Buhari, who was the candidate for the defunct ACN, came out to say he was done with contesting elections in Nigeria. But, from all indications, he may throw himself into the fray yet again. Will the APC be willing to give him the opportunity to vie under its platform? There is nothing in our constitution that debars anybody from contesting. So, whether he has said so in the past or not, our constitution is not person specific, the constitution gives everybody the right to contest for any office in the land, provided he or she meets the constitutional requirement of the party and of the country. What it implies is that there is a chance for him? What it implies is that there is a chance for everybody. I asked that question because we already have reactions as regards that report where some have said if General Buhari emerges as the APC candidate, it would give the PDP a run for their money in the presidential elections? That is your own opinion. As far as the party is concerned, we have not decided on any candidate and only our constitution and our guidelines will regulate the emergence of the candidate, whatever permutations is being done here and there, is of no relevance to the party. The national convention of the APC scheduled for May this year which would precede the process for the emergence of aspirants and eventually candidates is around the corner. What plans has the party put in place to ensure its success? It’s going to hold on May 24. The national convention is where you elect your national officers, where you elect delegates. It is where you amend, adopt constitution or make amendment to your manifesto. It’s the highest body of the party to handle disciplinary matters. So, it’s kind of an apex body of the party. There are some members of your party who are delegates at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja. How would they combine their responsibilities at the conference with that of the party when the congresses start? Those members who are attending the National Conference are not going there as delegates of APC, they are going there as nominees of their various governments. But, are they not expected to play roles in the congress in their various states? They were not nominated by the party, they were nominated by their governors, they were nominated by their societies and professional bodies and the party has made its position clear on this confab, that it is a bloody waste of time and money. That is why there is no delegate from the party and nobody went on the platform of the party. All those who are going from their states, if they happen to be APC, it is by coincidence; and if you look at the states, most of the people who are going are not really card carrying members of the party.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 18:02:52 +0000
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