Buhari urges APC presidential aspirants to choose consensus candidate before the party’s primary election

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged presidential aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to work on presenting a formidable consensus candidate before the party’s primary election slated for June 6-8, 2022.

Buhari said the ruling party must elect a formidable candidate that is appealing to the electorates in the 2023 presidential election.

The president said these when he hosted the aspirants at the presidential villa in Abuja on Saturday night.

KEMI FILANI NEWS had earlier reported that APC governors from the north have called for power shift to the south, declaring that a southern aspirant should pick the party’s presidential ticket.

“I wish to remind you that our choice of flag bearer must be formidable, appealing to the electorate across the board and should command such ability to unify the country and capacity to address our critical challenges.”

“Ahead of the Convention, the party machinery has screened and found all aspirants eminently qualified. Recognizing this fact, the Screening Committee has, amongst others, recommended that consensus building through consultation, be intensified.

“Without prejudice to your qualifications, I urge all of you to hold consultations amongst yourselves and with the party, with a view to building a consensus in a manner that would help the party reduce the number of aspirants, bring up a formidable candidate and scale down the anxiety of party members.”

Buhari went further to assured the aspirants that in the interest of the nation and the party, he would continue to provide effective leadership during the transition processes and on-going consultations, “until we successfully make the choice on the candidate that will fly the flag of our party for the presidential elections and make the party stronger. I seek your support in this all important responsibility.”

The APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, had earlier promised that all stakeholders of the party would be reached in the consultation process.

Speaking on behalf of the aspirants, former Governor of old Abia State and immediate past Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State, and Vice President, ‘Yemi Osinbajo, thanked the President for his leadership and guidance, pledging that they would hold the consultations as counseled “for the unity and strength of our party, the APC.”