There are feelers within the ruling All Progressives Congress that the party may choose its presidential candidate through a consensus arrangements.
It was gathered that those mulling the idea of using consensus to elect the presidential candidate of the party have been able to sell the idea to President Muhammadu Buhari, whom is said to be willing to go along with the idea.
A top source within the party, who is also close to Aso Rock Villa, said the party’s presidential ticket would surely go to the south but refused to disclose which part of the south it would go.
Another source who spoke in the same direction disclosed that the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is definitely not going to be the consensus candidate of the party. “From all indications, we are going to elect the presidential candidate through a consensus and what we are looking at is a candidate that will be accepted by all Nigerians.
“Someone who is still very much agile and not too old; somebody that is well-experienced will fly our party’s flag. That is all I can tell you for now,” the source said. When asked what other criteria the party would consider in choosing its flag bearer, the source said:
He added that “we have been mindful to give a sense of belonging to all ethnic groups and religions. We must be fair to them, and that is the reality of where we are as a country. Now that we have Senator Abdullahi Adamu as our national chairman, it will not be out of place to have a Christian as presidential candidate and a Muslim from the North as his running mate.
“The South is not in short supply of credible party members that would build on the foundation of President Muhammadu Buhari. For some of us, money is the least factor in choosing the party’s presidential candidate.
”Meanwhile, theparty’smembers who are loyal to Tinubu are insisting on an open primary that will involve delegates of the party to elect the presidential candidate of the party. Last Sunday, the South-West Agenda for Asiwaju 2023 (SWAGA’ 23), said the idea of a consensus presidential candidate for the party is unacceptable as it will cause rancour and division in the party.
Bosun Oladele, SWAGA’s National Secretary, said the issue of consensus will not be acceptable as all intending aspirants should be made to slug it out for the ticket. While insisting that nobody should try to get the APC presidential ticket through the “backdoor.
“There is nothing like consensus presidential candidate. That will be a shortcut, which they know cannot be possible through a primary if all the aspirants file out on the field. Nobody should think of getting the ticket through the backdoor. Don’t forget, Asiwaju Tinubu deliberately said that he has the capacity.
