Former Head of State, Major-General
Muhammadu Buhari seems to be the most
preferred presidential aspirant as the All
Progressives Congress (APC) goes for convention
between October 16 and 18 in Abuja.
But sources said some self-proclaimed party
chieftains who are scheming for Buhari should be
ready for a showdown with loyalists of another
top shot, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar
who is set to declare on September 24.
Checks at the weekend revealed that the party is,
however, in a dilemma on how to go about the
primaries such that whoever fails to clinch the
ticket among other contestants would not rock
the boat. Other contenders, who are equally
formidable and strong in terms of popularity and
followership are Atiku, Governor Rabiu Kwank­
waso of Kano State and former Kwara State
Governor Bukola Saraki.
A party chieftain, who doesn’t want to be named
said, “on our card is Muhammadu Buhari,”
enthusing that, “with a level playing field the party
has promised all the contenders, he will emerge
victorious and fly the party’s flag for 2015
presidential election.”
He, however feared that, “if money eventually
becomes the determining factor for the contest,
Buhari may find it a bit difficult wooing higher
percentage of delegates to his side where the
likes of Atiku and Kwankwaso are involved.”
Another top member of the party, who spoke with
Daily Sun in Osun State yesterday introduced a
new dimension to the discussion when he stated
emphatically that, “take it or leave it, APC was
formed with the main objective of using Buhari as
our 2015 candidate to win the northern votes.”
According to him, his credibility was what the
nation needed at this point in time to liberate the
country from the crossroad it finds itself today.
He said “dropping him may weaken the party as
some members, who believe in him may leave the
party.”
The source, however, expressed concern over
Buhari’s age which he said might throw the party
into crisis after the first term in office, reminding
that, “at above 70 now, if he is to spend two
terms in office, he would be about 80 years.”
He said, “in that wise, the party may decide to
persuade him to withdraw for younger aspirants,
who have age on their side to face the rigours of
governance at that level.”
If that eventually happens, Daily Sunlearnt that
the race will be between Atiku and Kwankwaso,
who are younger and also have reasonable
electoral values.
Atiku won Adamawa State governorship election
in 1999 before the then presidential candidate of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo, picked him as his running
mate. Kwankwaso is serving his second term.
It was further learnt that whoever becomes the
candidate would likely have Buhari’s
endorsement.
Meanwhile, moves by certain APC leaders to push
a consensus deal to enable Buhari, former
presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for
Progressive Change (CPC), emerge as the
candidate is already causing disaffection within
the party.
But a party source told Daily Sun that certain
self-proclaimed leaders in the party are scheming
to ensure automatic ticket for Buhari to the
consternation of other aspirants.
A source further expressed concern that those
angling for automatic ticket for Buhari are being
cowed by his die-hard loyalists who are insisting
that “it is either Buhari or nothing!”
But the source revealed that the other aspirants
are smarting for a showdown with those who
believed that Buhari candidacy is a settled matter.
“The idea of “automatic adoption” of Buhari or
any other aspirant for that matter is undemocratic
and could destroy the foundation and the
credibility of the APC.”
He recalled that the success recorded by the
main opposition party with the adoption of the
modified open direct primaries for choosing its
governorship candidate in Adamawa State for the
October 11 election has given confidence to the
leadership that it is a preferred option for
choosing its candidates for the 2015 elections.
Reacting to the insinuation of automatic ticket for
his boss, media aide to General Buhari , Mallam
Yau Darazo, told Daily Sun that he was not
aware of such plot. “Where did you hear that?
Well, I am not aware of that,” he queried.
Also reacting, National Publicity Secretary of the
party, Lai Mohammed, said no candidate would
be imposed as presidential candidate of the party.
“There is no provision for automatic ticket in our
party. I can tell you that we shall conduct a
transparent convention, where our candidate
would emerge,” he said.


THE SUN

let them set for world war 111

Too long 4 me 2 waste my time on

Let the battle begin........

A house divided against itself shall not stand!!
I have always wanted Nigeria to have a strong opposition party that wud checkmate the activities of the ruling party..PDP

But its quite unfortunate knowing that APC isn't that kind of party...smh

War ko battle ni

APC is a big scam.