TheNewsGuru

2019: Anxiety as APC, PDP hold conventions in Abuja, Rivers to elect presidential candidates

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by

Olaotan Falade
in ,

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are currently holding their national conventions to elect candidates to represent them at the presidential election scheduled for February 2019.
While the ruling party is holding theirs at Eagles Square in Abuja, the opposition party is holding theirs at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
About 7,000 delegates from across the country are expected to endorse the candidacy of President Muhammadu Buhari at the ongoing special national convention of the party.
The convention is a culmination of series of events which began with the special congresses to select delegates for the the convention which will be presided over by the National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and members of the National Working Committee of the party.
Initially, the convention was expected to also deliberate on the way forward for the party, but the convention committee headed by Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi said it will be a one-agenda event.
Addressing a news conference at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Friday, Deputy Chairman of the convention committee and Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, said the confirmation and rectification of the candidacy of the President is a commitment to steady progressive and positive change.
Shettima, who stood in for Chairman of the Convention Committee, said: “Let me assure you that the nomination and ratification of the candidacy of President Muhammadu Buhari is a commitment to service, progressive and quality change.
“Despite some of the problems we have encountered during the primaries in our various states, the National Working Committee of the party is working assiduously to resolve all the issues. It is a family quarrel and we are going to sort things out amicably.
“The party is doing and will continue to do all it can to resolve all the issues amicably so that everyone can be carried along and we can all unite as one in order to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari is returned to the poll come February 2019.
“The current APC administration, led by our dear President, is making sure and steady progress and we cannot afford to drop the ball and return our great country to those dark days, especially the 16 wasted years preceding this administration.
“About 7,000 delegates from across the length and breadth of our great country, and all necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure security.
For the PDP, over 4,000 delegates have being accredited to participate in the voting exercise to elect the party’s presidential flag bearer.
Despite parading over twelve other candidates, TNG had reported how one of the popular candidates, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar dramatically swung back into reckoning, and is now in the lead, in the line up of aspirants vying for the presidential ticket of the party.
 
Northern Generals rally last minute support for Atiku
 

The seemingly unbelievable turn around in fortunes for the Waziri Adamawa is being propelled by Northern Generals led by General Aliyu Gusau who have invaded Port Harcourt and are heavily canvassing his candidacy.
This development, TNG (TheNewsGuru.com) gathered is coming on the heels of the successful prevailing of the Northern Generals on General Olusegun Obasanjo to back down from his avowed threat never to support Atiku Abubakar for the presidency. It is also gathered that Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar and TY Danjuma having gotten Obasanjo’s nod, dispatched the Aliyu Gusau led northern Generals and leaders to go and persuade the leaders and delegates of the PDP to vote for Atiku Abubakar.
The quest to have the Waziri Adamawa as the candidate of the main opposition party, came against the back drop of Western countries, who are said to have given a tacit nod to back moves to compel President Buhari to vacate office, should he lose the presidential elections, next February. The fear in political circles has been that unlike President Goodluck Jonathan, President Buhari might not be magnanimous in defeat to concede and vacate office.
Leaders of the opposition are worried that Buhari, who is popular with the militant Muslim youths, who are his die hard loyalists, could propel them to foment trouble of unimaginable proportions should he lose.
That, TNG discovered, was the major reason most of the leaders backing a Rabiu Kwankwaso candidacy wanted him as a counterpoise to the perceived militancy of the hardcore Buhari supporters. Kwankwaso, it is believed, also has a large following among the militant muslim youths.
General Aliyu Gusau and his group are currently scouring the Rivers State capital meeting Governors and leaders and asking for their backing for Atiku. They are also meeting with the aspirants and pleading with them to back down and support the initiative to have what they call the best candidate to confront President Buhari at the poll.
It is understood that their meeting with Governor Nyesom Wike was fruitful and his tacit agreement was reached to soft pedal on his backing for Governor Aminu Tambuwal who has also being approached by the northern Generals and leaders to bid his time and wait. They are said to have also promised to back his candidacy in future.
it is understood that Generals Obasanjo, IBB, Abdulsalami, Danjuma, Gusau and a host of other leaders, who control the system in Nigeria, want President Buhari out at all cost. Atiku Abubakar appears to be their best joker so far.
As it stands, the tables are gradually turning, with Atiku Abubakar in the lead, followed by Rabiu Kwankwaso, Tambuwal and Sule Lamido.

PDP governors in crucial meeting

The 14 Governors under the Peoples Democratic Party have gone into a crucial meeting to further chart the way forward and ensure that the party’s primary holding today at the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium, Port Harcourt, Rivers state, is not only seen to be fair but also transparent and credible.
Meeting under the chairmanship of the outgoing governor of Ekiti, Oyo Fayose, the governors will also try to see if they can reach a consensus on who to back for the presidential ticket of the party as a way of avoiding a rancorous outcome.
It is widely known that unless the party manages its presidential primary very transparently, the outcome could lead to the implosion of the party.
One of the major reasons which made the governors meeting urgent is the pressure being piled on them by the various aspirants and groups, especially that led by General Aliyu Gusau, on the prompting of the retired Generals and some northern elders.
The retired Generals which include the likes of Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim BAdamasi Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar and TY Danjuma are said to be canvassing for a candidate who can beat the incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election next year.
Late last night, into this morning, the representative of the generals and elders, headed by General Gusau, have been going round all the aspirants, leaders and delegates trying to impress it on them why the Waziri Adamawa, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, should be given the nod to fly the party’s flag.
The PDP Governors Forum, among whom are two presidential aspirants: Aminu Tambuwal and Ibrahim Dankwambo, has the herculean task of deciding whether to back one of their own, or acquiesce to the demand of the Generals and the northern elders.
 
Both conventions are in progress as at the time of filing this report. TNG will bring you regular updates as events unfolds from both camps.