After Foiled Consensus Candidate Plot, APC Governors, Party’s NWC Shortlist 5 Aspirants to Buhari Hours to Today’s Primary

07 Jun After Foiled Consensus Candidate Plot, APC Governors, Party’s NWC Shortlist 5 Aspirants to Buhari Hours to Today’s Primary

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s National Working Committee have recommended five aspirants for today’s presidential primary of the party while advising the remaining 17 contenders to step down.

The latest development appears a blow to the plot by the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu to foist Senate President Ahmed Lawan on the party as a consensus candidate.

The five are former Lagos Governor, Bola Tinubu; a former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, who disclosed the development on Tuesday morning, said the list of shortlisted “frontline candidates” has been presented to President Muhammadu Buhari, who he said okayed the recommendation.

“The president told us any of these five are qualified to be president and have contributed to the party (APC). He said he is comfortable with any of them,” said Mr Lalong while speaking on Channels TV flagship programme, Sunrise.

“Our recommendation is to enable us to give direction for the party as we go into the primary. We cannot go with everybody, but in our view, these are the people we think should remain.”

The Plateau Governor said the five recommended aspirants were also advised to hold consultations among themselves to enable them further reduce the number of contestants.

On how the list of “frontline” aspirants was arrived at, Mr Lalong said, “The screening committee submitted a report. All the contestants were graded even though none of them was disqualified.”

Mr Lalong, however, added that contestants not shortlisted were free to disagree with the recommendation and proceed to contest at the primary.

The APC presidential screening committee had last week okayed 23 aspirants for today’s primaries.

They are Jigawa Governor, Abubakar Badaru; a former Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry, Godswill Akpabio; a former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; a former Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun; Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, businessman, Jack -Rich, Tein; President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan; a former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba; a former Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya On and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Also cleared are a former Governor of Lagos, Bola Tinubu; Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi; a former Governor of Imo, Rochas Okorocha, Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade; General Overseer of Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare, and a former Zamfara State Governor, Sani Yerima.

Also on the list are a former President of the Senate, Ken Nnamani; a former Minister of Information, Ikeobasi Mokelu; a former Speaker of the House of Representatives; Dimeji Bankole; a Deputy Senate Leader, Ajayi Borroffice; US-based pastor, Felix Nicholas and the only woman in the race, Uju Ken-Ohanenye.

Mr Nnamani stepped down from the race on Monday saying the APC had failed to do justice to the south of Nigeria.

According to the programme of events released by the party, the election will hold from 6pm to 9pm today after which the counting will be from 9pm to 10pm. The candidate will be expected to deliver his acceptance speech from 10pm to 10.15pm.

APC sources said over 2, 300 delegates had started arriving Abuja.  The national chairman of the APC Abdulahi Adamu in Abuja on Sunday inaugurated the chairmen and assistants of the 18 sub-committees that would oversee the convention.

Adamu would go cause a stir on Monday when he said President Muhammadu Buhari had endorsed Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the party’s consensus candidate.

The Presidency in a swift reaction denied that Buhari had endorsed any consensus candidate, but has rather declared that there would be no preferred candidate.

A statement by presidential spokesman Garba Shehu, quoted Buhari as saying that, “You were elected as I was. Have a clear mind as I have. God gave us the chance; we have no reason to complain. We must be ready to take pain as we take the joy. Allow the delegates to decide. The Party must participate, nobody will appoint anybody.”

In the same vein, the members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) dissociated themselves from the purported endorsement of Lawan as the consensus candidate of the party ahead of the party’s primary.

Addressing journalists at the party’s secretariat after the NWC meeting, the National Organising Secretary of the party, Mr. Suleiman Argungun, said the issue of consensus was never discussed at the meeting.

He said Adamu only gave them the information, adding that they were yet to discuss it.

Argungun insisted that the NWC didn’t announce Lawan as the anointed candidate.

Meanwhile, ahead of today’s primary, former President of the Senate, Ken Nnamani, on Monday, said he had pulled out of the race to secure the APC presidential ticket.

The former lawmaker announced his withdrawal during a meeting with journalists in Abuja on Monday.

He said, “In the present circumstances, it does not make any sense for me to continue in the race as I have not had the opportunity to market my profile and ideas to the delegates of our party in a manner that allows for deliberation and introspection.

“Therefore, I discontinue my aspiration and wish the party a successful primary and unity of purpose so that we can win the 2023 general elections.