Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the All Progressives Congress as presently constituted, cannot do without holding an elective party primary to choose its flag bearer for the 2015 presidential election.

Atiku said this in an interview with journalists, in Abuja, on Monday. He was reacting to the clamour by the Gen. Muhammadu Buhari campaign team for an automatic ticket for the retired general.

In a veiled reference to agitations by Buhari’s supporters for an automatic ticket, Atiku said such agitations were borne out of a fear of an elective contest.

According to him, such a campaign can also be a carryover of the political background of those seeking for such concessions which is alien to the APC as it is today.

He said, “There is nothing like automatic ticket and those people who are asking for automatic ticket might have been coming from a political background that did not know contest before.

“You know the APC is an amalgamation of a number of political parties that came together and merged their identities but the APC as currently constituted cannot escape an elective mode of primaries.

“There is no zoning, on what basis are you going to say it is automatic? There is no allocation as they do in the Peoples Democratic Party, there is nothing like that so, on what basis?”

He implored politicians not to be scared of a political contest because it helps to strengthen democracy arguing that should he lose in a fair contest, he would support his party to win the elections.

In response, the South-East Zonal Publicity Secretary of the party who belongs to Buhari’s camp, said neither the general nor his supporters were afraid of a contest.

He, however, said the long term interest of the party was of utmost importance because there was little or no time left for the party to deal with the rancour which was likely to follow.

Okechukwu said “It is not a question of being afraid of a contest. Why we are asking for an automatic ticket for Buhari is on many grounds. We have seen that the connection between him, the middle class and the masses of this country is unparalleled.

“He has a bond with the masses of this country and the middle class and that kind of bond generated 12 million votes in 2011 in a micro CPC, a small CPC, now we have a broader political party.

“We need to compliment and supplement that 12 million votes instead of running the risk of the rancour, the bitterness of direct or indirect primaries. We have to avoid that rancour.”
http://www.punchng.com/politics/atiku-kicks-against-automatic-ticket-for-buhari/

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we won't give anyone automatic ticket... -Lie Mohammed

Atiku is sitting on a long thing. He is not stable, so he can't have the trust of the party... Lest we forget, he was the presidential candidate for AC in 2007 but he left after loosing the election... Same goes for Ribadu, who was the candidate of ACN in 2011. Both are from the same state, people from Adamawa aren't trustworthy!!!
We need someone that's credible, competent and trustworthy!!! A man with vision and passion.

SAI BUHARI
Vote APC 2015

Buhari is wasting time, Atiku is scheming. APC, party of useless politicians

Atiku will flog Buhari mercilessly in a free and fair party primaries devoid of mago mago

PDP looking for war and blood in APC - that will not happen

Buhari/Fashola 2015 - PDP having heart attack already

Oga jona till 2019

“[size=14pt]There is no zoning[/size], on what basis are you going to say it is automatic? There is no allocation as they do in the Peoples Democratic Party, there is nothing like that so, on what basis?”

If there's no zoning, why are the Southerners only interested in the vice presidential seat?

Are the Southerners in APC bereft of ideas or don't have the balls to face Buhari?
They make themselves second fiddle then bemoan the North's dominance of their party.

Once a slave always a.....

If buhari is given autamatic ticket then what people are saying that they can not conduct primary election is true.

he should get ready to jump to another party.....................labour party i guess

c,okechukwu is talking! On election day nw, he wil b d one 2 beg me 2 vote 4 gej. I know ur type. Continue 2 spend buhari's money.

mistudreh: Atiku is sitting on a long thing. He is not stable, so he can't have the trust of the party... Lest we forget, he was the presidential candidate for AC in 2011 but he left after loosing the election... Same goes for Ribadu. Both are from the same state.
We need someone that's credible, competent and trustworthy!!! A man with vision and passion.

SAI BUHARI
Vote APC 2015

2007 you mean. I recall the 2007 poll, AC won Lagos convincingly in the Presidential poll. I am aware they won SW but IWU rigged it in a pathetic manner.
Atiku should respect himself and avoid humiliation @ the primaries.
It is Buhariiii 2015

SAI Buhari

Abeg na who i go vote for come 2015?. . . i no even get pvc..mder faatherrr!

Give fashola automatic ticket....
heard fashola will soon swap to pdp o
aw true is that

APC will win only if they give an igbo man the presidential flag #shikena#

Sai Buhari......in Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari we trust

tomakint: Sai Buhari......in Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari we trust

Dude is so popular yet has a mortal fear for party primaries . . . .Imagine the irony

barcanista: 2007 you mean. I recall the 2007 poll, AC won Lagos convincingly in the Presidential poll. I am aware they won SW but IWU rigged it in a pathetic manner.
Atiku should respect himself and avoid humiliation @ the primaries.
It is Buhariiii 2015

SAI Buhari

You are right bro... God bless

i don hear

Both gonn lose again

Interesting

we need coup in this country

This Atiku is an A55hole Inshort they can both go fvck themselves. Both are not the saviour we the masses want

What did he kick? Football, Buhari or the BUCKET?

https://www.nairaland.com/1906850/atiku-im-angry-upset-boko

Antell95: i don hear

u again

Atiku is right in his words, its 4 real dat burai cant win if primaries re 2 b conducted, neither will Atiku fly d party's presidential flag if primaries re conducted. APC presidential candidate is in one corner of his room smiling as event unfolds

Polithiefcians battling each other since 1422

APC= all past criminals

They just start ni I knew dey would finnaly fight in d pursuit for the presidential candidate...

iheanyi40: u again

Everywhere you GO!

E no concine me o