Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may cave in to pressure from pow­erful stakeholders in the party who wants the ticket for the 2023 presidential election to be thrown open so as to accommodate all intending aspirants, Daily Independent has gathered.

A chieftain of the party, who is also a member of the Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee, who disclosed this to Daily Independent on Thursday said some northern governors who are serving out their second term and are interested in the presidency are mounting pressure on the Mai Mala Buni-led committee to throw the ticket open so as to give all aspirants a level playing field.

He also said contrary to reports in some quarters, it was not true that the Caretak­er Committee has concluded arrangements that the ticket will go to the South.

According to him, there have been divergent views in the party and the party lead­ership is still considering all the options in order to arrive at a decision that will not jeop­ardise its chances at the polls.

The three views, according to him, were those who want the ticket zoned to the South, those who want it retained by the North and those who want the party to throw it open for all the aspirants so that no one will feel excluded.

“In all honesty, we have not agreed on zoning of the pres­idential ticket. What we have are just clamour by various stakeholders in the party on where the ticket should be zoned to and they have all canvassed arguments back­ing their claims.

“While there have been arguments on whether it should be North and South, there have been strident calls by some stakeholders that the best way to go out about so that no aspirant will feel excluded is for the party to throw the ticket open so that all intending aspirants will vie for it and the best will emerge.

“I have sampled the views of many of our party mem­bers and I can tell you that ma­jority of them agree with the idea of allowing all intending aspirants to try their luck so that we can arrive at the best.

“On our part, we have not gotten to that stage yet. When we get to the bridge, we will cross it. We have just con­cluded our membership and revalidation exercise and we are also preparing for our na­tional convention which is not too far away,” he said.

There were reports last week that the party had zoned the presidency to the South and national chairmanship position to the North.

However, this was denied by Senator John AkpanU­doedehe, the Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, who said that the Buni-led commit­tee could not have ventured into such sensitive decision without consulting widely among key stakeholders.

Speaking on the issue, Hon. Abdullahi Bello, State Chairman, APC, Kogi State, said the party should throw the ticket open so as not to deprive some of the best as­pirants the opportunity of vying for the ticket.

Bello, who said zoning is ungodly and undemocrat­ic, added that given the dire situation Nigeria currently finds herself, what should be the focus of everyone now is to get the best candidate that can unite the nation and prof­fer solution to the insecurity challenges across the country.

“I have never for once sup­ported zoning because it is undemocratic. Zoning is un­godly and it deprives the best candidate the chance of get­ting the ticket. It is only when you throw the ticket open to all the aspirants that you can get the best candidate.

“I belong to the school of thought that the APC ticket should be thrown open to ev­ery eligible aspirant to aspire for the number one position of our country. Looking at the situation in our country today, this is not the time to be talking about zoning. Our focus should be on capacity. Let the best man take up the job of leading Nigeria”.

“The best candidate for APC in that election is no oth­er person than my principal, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, and it will be unfair if he is deprived of contesting because of zon­ing”, he said.

However, speaking with Daily Independent, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, Lagos State Chairman of APC, said it will amount to changing the goal­post in the middle of the game if the zoning arrangement is jettisoned now when Presi­dent Muhammadu Buhari is almost completing his tenure in office.

Warning that dumping zoning arrangement now may cause crisis within the party, Balogun advised that the gen­tleman’s agreement reached by the founding fathers of the party must be strictly adhered to in the spirit of justice, fair play and equity.

“It is not possible for the ticket to be thrown open. We have founding fathers of this party and based on their agreement at their meetings then, President Muhamma­du Buhari was able to pick the ticket after it was zoned to the North.

“So, now that he is com­pleting his eight years, how can we now begin to change the goalpost in the middle of the game by saying the ticket should be thrown open to both North and South?

“It has been agreed then that the zoning arrangement should continue in 2023, which means it has to come to the South. Talking of throwing the ticket open doesn’t show fair­ness and justice. In order not to create problems for our­selves, it is just wise for us to abide by our agreement in the spirit of justice and fair play”.

https://www.independent.ng/apc-under-pressure-to-throw-open-2023-presidential-ticket/

If APC throws open it's presidential ticket, there'll be a division in the party... It'll only show that the party is not coordinated and without orderliness....


But, the caliber of politicians under the party shows that, no good candidate will emerge a d perform better as all of them have one dimensional pattern of leadership and it'd always be based on lies....

Open ticket wasn't the agreement..The agreement is between North and South...

With Buhari, North would complete their 8 years in 2023.. It's logical and sensible for the Apc to microzone the ticket to the latter South, which all region from the south SE, SW and SS can contest for the party presidential primary..

Open ticket would cause more confusion and division in the party

You ain't see nothing yet. Every Fulani Man or Woman is now a PhD Holder and a Professor.

The only problem I have with my Eastern brothers is their love for short cut to success. Despite all their media noise for Nigerian president of Igbo extraction, have you seen any of them that shows interest openly like Tinubu, Yahaya Bello and others?
They don't want to do that because it requires spending money. When Obi was picked as Atiku's running mate in 2019, it was difficult for him to organize rally with his own.
Things are not done like that, if you want something you go out for it with your resources not sit at home, threatening everyone that they must give you what you want or death

APC, where is NWANIMO to come and give us the meaning for today's APC. Let me try small while waiting.

A - Another
P - Promise
C - Commence

Hh

Ok

Open or closed ticket. Who cares?
Do you?

Bought and sold

Ccc

i think they want to counter PDP. but truth is, no serious politician should be afraid of throwing the ticket open

roforofo about to start

All the political parties in Nigeria should all get out.

There is no pressure, we Biafrans are not interested and not ready to vote for any Biafran that may contest.

As for Oduduwa people, Tinubu is using Sunday Igboho to see if he can mount pressure on the fulani to give him the mantle. Well good for him

As for those Oduduwa people thinking that Igboho is going to get Oduduwa nation for you guys, you are simply dreaming. He is being bankrolled by Tinubu to mount pressure. His is just like our Uwazurike. He does not even talk

Pls can someone enlighten me on any viable businesses someone can invest at least 5m in Nigeria this moment,that will be yielding reasonable profits on a daily basis or weekly.
Your contribution will be highly appreciated.

Shameless politicians

The only hope is division.

south east and west want to eject from Nigeria but the north want unity so as to continue causing havoc all over the country.

We only have a common enemy,,,. the north

Put ur small differences aside and fight the biggest enemy the North

Tinubu will cry soon

L

Apc have have nothing to offer the masses

They are good for nothing Muslim brotherhood occultic party

There code is impoverished and rule

Enslave/Chained them and and rule

Destabilize them and rule

Apc is an evil party

PDP is not better


Don't force one Nigeria on our throats

If they like they should zone it to my blood brother, as for me and my house we will vote massively against APC

Just look at This One. Itching Ears, Scanning Eyes, funny Nose and big mouth ready to eat more than Pantami and Buhari. How do you cope with zoning in this situation? And yet there are Ugezu, J. Ugezus of Igboland, A CULTURAL ICON OF NO SMALL RECKONING.

Let them continue their drama. Me I just know say come 2023 there will be no more Nigeria.

Jokers...when it's obvious they'll be boothed(voted) out of power once there is an established political party of Youths and young aspirants....SMH.

jrusky:
Make una dey waste una time. Apc never again. You guys blew the God given chance to proof a point and it's over.2023 my foot!!!

Kaykaydavid1919:

Fake useless party. APshit. Evil bad Government. Worst than PDP 16 years. Most useless party of all time with useless evil leaders. Bad party with bad intentions. No good can come out of dat evil party. Bad evil worst change. Change things to worst.

nairalee:

If they like they should zone it to my blood brother, as for me and my house we will vote massively against APC

HornyTave:
All the political parties in Nigeria should all get out.

We youth need to make sure there is a paradigm shift in the political terrain of Nigeria come 2023 and with the way things ate been planned it will.


@Seniorwriter

Mtcheew

Fake useless party. APshit. Evil bad Government. Worst than PDP 16 years. Most useless party of all time with useless evil leaders. Bad party with bad intentions. No good can come out of dat evil party. Bad evil worst change. Change things to worst.