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Tag: Consensus Candidate

  • APC primary: Umahi, Okorocha, Onu, other South-East aspirants write Buhari for consensus

    APC primary: Umahi, Okorocha, Onu, other South-East aspirants write Buhari for consensus

    Presidential aspirants from the South-East partaking in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election have written to President Muhammadu Buhari to pick one of them as a consensus candidate.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the presidential aspirants in the letter urged President Buhari to intervene for “proper guidance” during the APC special national convention currently underway in Abuja.

    The aspirants especially want Buhari to intervene to allow the South-East to produce the next presidential candidate of the party.

    The letter reads: “We the undersigned, who are aspirants to the Office of President on the platform of our party the APC. write to commend your fatherly leadership of our country and our party.

    “We also commend your unequivocal approval of the position of the 14 Progressive governors from Northern Nigeria, to ensure that your successor is elected from the southern part of Nigeria. We also commend the governors for this patriotic and unifying stand. United we stand – Our unity in diversity has been the rallying point of all patriots.

    “Your Excellency. we most humbly request that this position of our brothers from the North be deepened and made even more wholesome by further zoning this position to the South-East.

    “We are all aware that no President can emerge without the support of various geopolitical zones and without the express collaboration of our brothers and sisters from other zones of Nigeria.

    “With our Convention at hand, your kind directive for the deepening of unity in diversity, championed by our founding fathers solely on the basis of strengthening national unity and cohesion and for rousing victory at the 2023 elections are stated objectives in your speeches to the Progressive governors forum, the APC aspirants dinner and the meeting of APC stakeholders.

    “Furthermore. we are humbly requesting that you consider and pick your chosen candidate from the South-East aspirants in line with your stated objectives of handing over to trusted party loyalists.

    “We humbly seek your Excellency’s prompt and kind intervention to enable the party delegates to assume proper guidance.

    “Please accept as always. our continuing loyalty and assurances of our esteem regards and obedience to whichever candidate your Excellency deems fit and appropriate to adopt as the candidate of the party”.

    TNG reports the letter was signed by Ikeobasi Mokelu; former ministers of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba; Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, and Mrs. Ken Uju-Ohanenye.

    Although Senator Rochas Okorocha was listed among signatories, he did not append his signature to the letter.

  • BREAKING: Northern APC govs present Tinubu, Osinbajo, Amaechi, three other names to Buhari as possible consensus

    Northern APC Governors have just forwarded the names of five southern aspirants to the President Muhammadu Buhari from which consideration should be made for a consensus candidate.

    The development is a follow-up on their resolution to zone the party’s Presidential ticket to the south.

    True to that resolution, aspirants from the South dominated the list.

    The list has the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu; Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi; and Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State.

    Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, confirmed the development.

    He said those whose names were submitted had been graded by the party screening committee based on specified requirements.

    Although the Plateau State Governor also noted that the Northern Governors, being only one section of the party, the shortlist will not bar other aspirants from contesting the primaries.

    The governors had, on Monday, met with Buhari to officially inform him of their stance to zone the ticket to the south.

    The Northern Governors met the president around the same time the APC national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, announced that President Buhari had endorsed Senate President Ahmed Lawan as the consensus candidate.

    The Presidency immediately denied the announcement, saying that Buhari, at the time, had not anointed any candidate.

    The PUNCH had reported that Buhari asked the governors to reduce the number of aspirants after consultations.

    A media aide to one of the governors confirmed that aspirants were shortlisted without giving their names.

    He, however, emphasised that no one was disqualified nor eliminated from the primary.

    “Yes, they shortlisted but never disqualified or eliminated any aspirant. What they did is similar to what the screening committee did. They just recommended aspirants that will make APC remain in power,” Lalong said.

  • APC takes discussions on consensus candidate to National Chairman’s home

    APC takes discussions on consensus candidate to National Chairman’s home

    The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has continued discussions on the possibility of coming up with a consensus candidate ahead of Tuesday’s Special Convention for its presidential primary election.

    Alhaji Abba Kyari, Vice Chairman, North, of the party, on Monday in Abuja, said discussions on the issue would continue tonight at the house of Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, the party’s national chairman.

    Kyari spoke to newsmen at the end of a closed-door meeting between governors elected on the party’s platform and members of its National Working Committee (NWC) at the party’s national secretariat.

    When asked if the party had come up with a consensus candidate, Kyari said: “the discussion continues tonight at the house of the party’s national chairman”.

    He said the possibility of the party coming up with a consensus candidate before the primaries, could therefore not be ruled out.

    No fewer than 2,340 delegates from the 774 Local Government Areas in the country and Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are expected to vote at the APC presidential primary.

    The delegates are expected to cast their votes for their preferred aspirant that would emerge as the party’s 2023 presidential candidate.

    Though 23 presidential aspirants bought the party’s presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to contest the presidency, 13 were cleared by the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun presidential screening committee.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, at a dinner with the party’s presidential aspirants on Saturday, backed the rotation of power to the Southern part of the country in 2023.

    This limited the numbers of aspirants that would be contesting the party’s 2023 presidential ticket at the primary to those from the South if a consensus candidate is not picked.

    Meanwhile, 11 governors from the North had in a statement on Saturday, announced their decision to support power shift to the South after the end of the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The governors, while urging presidential aspirants from the northern part of the country to step down from the 2023 presidential race, said, ”the decision to support power shift to the South is in the best interest of the country”.

    The APC Special Convention for its presidential primary election holds at the Abuja Eagle Square.

  • APC: Northern Governors disagree with the choice of Lawan

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) governors from the North have rejected the choice of Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the consensus presidential candidate of the party.

    Senate president Ahmed Lawan was announced as the All Progressive Congress (APC), consensus candidate ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    The announcement was made by national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu at the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC)  on Monday in Abuja.

    Meanwhile the NWC members insisted other aspirants must be given a level playing ground to compete.

    Other aspirants including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Dr. Kayode Fayemi and David Umahi, among others will however be allowed to contest the primary at the convention holding tomorrow at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

    Adamu’s adoption of Lawan as consensus candidate is against the position of 11 APC northern Governors, who endorsed that power must shift to the South after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.

    Adamu told the National Working Committee that he arrived at the choice of Lawan after consultation with President Buhari.

    Meanwhile, the Northern Governors have kicked against Ahmed Lawan and prefer to go the the primary election to choose the party’s candidate.

    Recall that In a meeting  with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Northern governors insisted that power should rotate to Southern part of the country in 2023.

    The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, briefed State House reporters after the meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    He said the 13 of them apologized to the president for receiving the information about their position after it was leaked.

    The governor, however, said that they took the decision in the interest of justice and peace in the country.

    Lalong, who stated that they would hold another meeting  today among themselves, said the president agreed with their position and maintained that the presidential candidate must emerge through a transparent process.

    He said President Buhari told them he did not have an anointed candidate for now and directed them to meet the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to agree on the succession plan.

    On the absence of the Governor of Kogi State at the meeting where the power shift decision was taken, he said his colleague was not part of the agreement as his signature was not on the statement.

    In his reaction, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State said it was the democratic right of Kogi governor to excuse himself.

  • [BREAKING] Presidential Primaries: Ahmad Lawan is the consensus candidate – APC Chairman Adamu declares

    [BREAKING] Presidential Primaries: Ahmad Lawan is the consensus candidate – APC Chairman Adamu declares

    As President Muhammadu Buhari holds a crucial meeting with northern governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the National Chairman of the party has announced Senate President Ahmed Lawan as the consensus candidate of the party.

    Adamu made the announcement at the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) on Monday in Abuja.

    Other aspirants including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Dr Kayode Fayemi and David Umahi, among others will, however, be allowed to contest the primary at the convention holding tomorrow at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

    Progressive Governors Forum Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi); chairman of Northern Governors Forum Simon Lalong; Abubakar Baduru (Jigawa) and Babagana Zulum (Borno).

    Others are: Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Bello Matawale (Zamfara); Mallam Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Yahaya Inuwa (Gombe); Abubakar Bello (Niger) and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe).

  • Consensus: Shettima gives hint on president Buhari’s choice

    Former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, has hinted that  President Muhammadu Buhari will likely endorse the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, if he eventually goes for a consensus candidate.

    Shettima  made  the statement while making an appearance on Television Continental Lagos on Friday.

    According to him, it will be “catastrophic” for APC if Tinubu isn’t elected as the party’s presidential candidate.

    “We are in a democratic situation but I’m afraid it might be catastrophic for the party.

    “I’m not a prophet of doom; I’m an internal optimist. We have done our own bidding and by God’s grace, our candidate will emerge as the presidential flagbearer of the APC in the next 72 hours,” Shettima said.

    Asked who the president’s choice would be, Shettima added: “People are underrating the president a great deal and they are equally underrating the depth of his friendship with Tinubu. They have come a long way.

    “The President Buhari I know sufficiently, if at all the president is going to endorse anyone, that person is going to be Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Forget about all the charlatans and distractions and political contractors.”

    ThenewsGuru.com reports that 10 out of the 23 aspirants have been disqualified from the presidential race.

    All Progressive congress (APC) is yet to announce the names of the 10 disqualified aspirants.

    But presenting his report to APC national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, Oyegun said: “I won’t want to read the names, I’d leave that to you, but we brought the number down to 13.

    “We could have cut it a little shorter but we wanted the younger elements to surface.”

  • APC Convention: Many candidates will emerge via consensus – Lawan

    APC Convention: Many candidates will emerge via consensus – Lawan

    Senate president Ahmad Lawan on Thursday hinted that most of the offices will be decided by consessus at the APC convention holding on Saturday 26th

    Lawan said the party was already reaching consensus in the selection of candidates across the states and zones ahead of the convention.

    Addressing Journalists after the APC caucus, caretaker/Extraordinary convention planning committee held a meeting at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.

    He said that the next two days are very important and crucial to the APC family.

    .“The next two days are so important to us that we must get everything spot on so that we don’t allow anyone to cause any problem.

    “Thank God we are reaching consensus all over the states and zones and by the time we go into the convention ground, I’m sure there will be very few elective offices that will have to be voted for. Most would have been achieved through consensus,” Lawan said.

    The Senate President said the APC Senate Caucus was on solidarity visit to the leadership of the committee which he praised for performing so well.

    Lawan said: “We have come to show solidarity to our party and the leadership of the Caretaker and Convention Planning Committee.

    “They have done so well. We are two days away from the national convention. The Senate APC caucus has always been very supportive of the party.

    “This Caretaker Committee that has been running our party, in our judgement, has done so well and deserves our continuous and unreserved support, commitment, dedication and loyalty.

    “We, as a party, feel that this is a moment that is so critical to the existence of APC in Nigeria. We need to get the convention right. We need to have a very successful, peaceful convention where we elect our leaders that will run the affairs of the party for the next four years.

    “Therefore, every hand must be on deck and what we have done is to come and say our hands are available to be on deck as always.

    “We are happy that the party received us so well like it has always done and the Chairman of the Caretaker and Convention Planning Committee has expressed his total commendation for the APC Senate Caucus.

    “We are not only members but also strong financial members of this party. We believe morally also that we have been contributing to the existence of this party.

    “Infact, in a way, the National Assembly APC caucus can be said to be so responsible for a stable political environment in Nigeria today.

    “We have been able to work with Mr President so peacefully, cordially and what is it today in Nigeria is to tell you that the relationship between the two arms of APC administration in the Villa and in the National Assembly has provided a climate where even other political parties in opposition are doing what they think they should do freely.

    “So I want to thank my colleagues for coming together to ensure that our party remains stable in the National Assembly for our administration to continue to succeed and we wish the Convention Planning Committee and its leadership all the best.”

    Earlier, the Chairman of the APC Caretaker and Convention Committee, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni thanked the Senators for their support for the party and the APC administration.

    Buni enumerated some of the successes of the committee and asked for their continued support.

  • PDP Presidential Ticket: Saraki, Tambuwal, Bala meet in Abuja

    PDP Presidential Ticket: Saraki, Tambuwal, Bala meet in Abuja

    Influential Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) bigwigs Aminu Tambuwal, Bukola Saraki , Bala Mohammed had a meeting in Abuja over the presidential ticket and 2023 general elections.

    Recall that a previous election was held in Bauchi, whilst the next meeting has been scheduled for Sokoto where Tambuwal comes from.

    The PDP primary election to produce a presidential aspirant has been scheduled to hold in April 2022.

    It was gathered that consultations are ongoing regarding the agreement of a consensus PDP flagbearer to face that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next general elections.

    The parley is sequel to a recent one which was held in Bauchi. The next has been scheduled for Sokoto.

    “In continuation of our meeting in Bauchi, we agreed on Sunday that we’ll come and meet here in Abuja.

    “The next meeting we are going to have will be in Sokoto where the governor will host. This informs Nigerians that we’re are in good discussions, this is an ongoing process.

    “The more we meet, the more we’ll continue to share our views about the importance of the unity of our party.

    “We believe that it is only PDP that has the real solutions to help us get out of the problems we are in today.

    “We decided to reach out to other aspirants, we have identified senior leaders and stakeholders, some of them former colleagues and governors.

    “We want all to be part of the process of bringing us together and uniting the party ahead.

    “The major message we want to put across to Nigerians is that the country is larger and bigger.

    “We believe that once we unite as PDP, we will lay the foundation for a strong party that will help in delivering Nigerians from the challenges they are facing now and prepare the country to become stronger.

    2023: We now have what it takes to wrestle Lagos from APC – PDP

    “This is a process. We will continue to carry you along, keep you informed. All we are doing is for the interest of the party and for the interest of Nigeria.”

    “The next meeting we are going to have will be in Sokoto where the governor will host. This informs Nigerians that we’re are in good discussions, this is an ongoing process.

    “The more we meet, the more we’ll continue to share our views about the importance of the unity of our party.

    “We want all to be part of the process of bringing us together and uniting the party ahead.

    “The major message we want to put across to Nigerians is that the country is larger and bigger.

    TheNewsguru.com TNG reports that Bukola Saraki is also a presidential hopeful who may be contesting under the umbrella of PDP

  • Northern leaders announce choice of consensus candidate for PDP Chairmanship slot

    Northern leaders announce choice of consensus candidate for PDP Chairmanship slot

    The northern leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have picked Senator Iyorchia Ayu as their consensus candidate for the party’s chairmanship position zoned to the region.

    This comes after the PDP leaders held a consensus meeting in Bauchi on Wednesday ahead of the party’s national convention.

    It suffered a setback as some stakeholders in the party were reported to have shunned the meeting.

    Chairman of the Convention Organising Committee and Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri, then adjourned the meeting to Thursday where the leaders chose Senator Iyorchia.

    The PDP leaders from the northern region had met to trim down the number of candidates contesting for the office of the national chairman of the PDP and other positions in the forthcoming convention.

    Last Thursday, they agreed to set up a 20-man committee that would streamline the number of contestants from each of the zones in the region.

    Party leaders in the north-central region had held a similar meeting on Tuesday where Professor Iyorchia Ayu emerged as a consensus candidate for the chairmanship position in the convention to be held later in October.

    On September 9, the PDP leadership set up a national zoning committee to zone national offices to be contested by all PDP members.

    But the mandate of the committee did not include zoning of the offices of the president, vice president, as well as other executive and legislative offices in the country.

  • Ondo 2020: 10 political parties agree to adopt consensus candidate

    Ondo 2020: 10 political parties agree to adopt consensus candidate

    Ten political parties have agreed to work for a consensus candidate during the governorship election in Ondo State on Oct. 10.

    The parties are working together under the Conference of INEC Registered Political Parties (CIRPP).

    The CIRPP said this in Lagos on Thursday in a statement jointly issued by its Chairman, Mr Olugbemi Ogunbameru (SDP), Secretary, Comrade Israel Ayeni (AAC) and some other members of the coalition.

    It, however, said it had not decided on any consensus candidate for now, but would make its position known soon.

    “The CIRPP Will, however, make its position known as to who to support and work for within 72 hours,” the coalition said.

    “The CIRPP, hereby, informs the general public that the committee has not adopted any candidate for the slated election as insinuated by the public and envisaged by a group of persons who are not members of registered political parties.

    “There are earlier insinuations that the CIRPP is working and supporting a particular party, but there is nothing of such.”

    According to it, the sole objective of the body is to seek, propagate credibility and ensure good governance in the Sunshine State for the betterment of our democracy without political sentiment.

    The coalition said that development, would in turn, enable all citizens and residents of Ondo State to have the full benefit of the dividends of democracy.

    “It is our priority to ensure that the people of Ondo State will be guided to vote for the right person.

    “It is our joy that a compassionate person wins in the forthcoming election,” it said.

    The statement was co-issued by Dr Ajibola Falaiye (Accord), Mr Olaoluwa Adesanya (APP), Chief Tokunbo Adetoro (ADC) and Prince Niran Toyin (APGA).

    Others in the coalition are Mr Felix Funso Oloro (APM), Mr Olagookun Peter (NNPP) Mrs Funmilayo Ataunoko (NRM) and Mr Amos Agunloye (LP).