The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday ruled out using a consensus process to select its presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 general election.
The APC will choose its presidential candidate through an indirect primary election.
The decision was reached at the party’s 11th National Executive Committee meeting holding at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.
This followed reports that several governors elected on the party’s platform rejected using the consensus mechanism to choose the party’s presidential and gubernatorial candidates in the 2023 general elections.
The governors, who were at the presidential estate to break the Ramadan fast with the president, rejected the concept of selecting candidates for various electoral offices by consensus.
The president and the party leadership had been advised by the progressive governors’ forum to use indirect primaries to select candidates for various elective seats in the 2023 general elections.
Also President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the party transmitted their powers to the National Working Committee of the APC to make decisions for a period of 90 days.
Among those who will be contesting the APC Presidential primary are Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu; the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
Others in the APC who are rumoured to be nursing Presidential ambitions include Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige. The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, is also considered a contender.
Details later…
