2023 presidential contest: Muslim-Muslim ticket, zonal balancing tear APC northern stakeholders apart
…As choice for Tinubu’s running mate toughens
…Coalitions of APC North-East stakeholders kick against North-West consideration
By Moses Adeniyi
Decision of a running mate for All Progressives Congress’ (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu continued to assume dicey sides, as conflicting interest build around the choice of the running mate that will balance the demands of inclusiveness and equity.
The pressure on the choice of the stakeholder to run alongside the party’s presidential candidate as the vice, have been clouded with arguments over sensitivity to balancing principles to give inclusiveness to religion and zoning considerations.
Nigerian NewsDirect gathered how the choice of the running mate is becoming tougher as the need to balance the strength of inclusiveness, particularly on religion and zoning needs, have delayed the declaration of the party’s direction, against the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which has hit the ground running on the choice of its running mate.
Calls on the party leadership and the APC’s candidate, Tinubu, has been interest-bound as northern stakeholders of the APC have continued to throw their sentiments over what part of the north the running mate should be selected from, since the party has nailed its presidential ticket to the South.
On Sunday, a coalition of stakeholders of the APC from the North-East demanded that the party leadership and its presidential candidate, Tinubu, to pick the running mate from the North-Cast, rather than the North West.
The stakeholders argued their North-West counterparts must come to terms with the fact that the North-Central region hasn’t had a shot at the highest level of governance since the return of democracy in 1999, holding that “this time has presented that unique opportunity that must be utilised in the party’s best interest.”
They hold that such decision would afford the party to secure a landslide victory at the polls in the 2023 presidential elections and positions it as a party known for fairness, equity and justice.
The decision which was taken at the end of an emergency meeting of the North-East APC Stakeholders Coalition which held Sunday in Abuja, trailed the call of some stakeholders from the North-West decently clamouring the position of the running mate hail from their zone.
After the Sunday meeting, the National Coordinator of North-East APC Stakeholders Coalition, Alhaji Abba Aji Suleiman, while addressing journalists faulted the demand of their North-Western counterparts, describing same as “not only misplaced, but a gross display of insensitivity to the relevance of other regions in the scheme of things in the party.”
The coalition argued that, “the North-West Region had been within the corridors of power in the last seven years of President Muhammadu Buhari administration, and for such demand to be made indeed speaks volume of gross insensitivity.
“It is the considered view of stakeholders in the North-East that it would only be fair and just if the vice-presidential slot goes to the North-Central, given the numerous contributions of the region to the growth and development of the party.
“The stakeholders must come to terms with the fact that the North-Central region hasn’t had a shot at the highest level of governance since the return of democracy in 1999. This time has presented that unique opportunity that must be utilized in the party’s best interest.
“The North-West APC Stakeholders must also realize that the overarching objective of the party is to secure a landslide victory at the polls, and if that is indeed the case, would it make any sense if a region that has been represented adequately in the last 10 years, would also demand the vice-presidential slot,” he said.
“Unless the stakeholders of our great party in the North West want us to believe that the North Central is not deserving of producing the vice-presidential candidate, hence the demand for the vice-presidential slot.
“The stakeholders of the APC in the North-East wish to use this medium to call on the leadership of our great party to ensure justice and fairness by providing that the vice presidential slot is given to the North Central,” Suleiman maintained.
Arguments of ceding the running mate choice to the North-East have also been justified as a strategy to neutralise the prospects of PDP’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who is equally from the zone.
North Central arguments
Recall that earlier, late June, stakeholders of the APC in the North-central had made a case demanding the party’s presidential running mate be ceded to the zone for equity and stability.
The North-Central APC Stakeholders Forum, which made its position known at a press conference on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Abuja, warned the Party not to make the mistake of ignoring the zone in the scheme of things.
A statement signed by its Coordinator, Bala Danladi Adamu, had the group saying the North-central is critical to the party’s success in 2023, speaking of its innumerable contributions in the growth and development of the APC over the years.
The Group argued that not only will a Christian from the region balance the presidential ticket, but it is strategic to secure victory at the polls.
According to the Group, it would be against all known political strategies for the region to be alienated in the present permutations towards securing victory for the party at the elections.
The North-Central stakeholders argued that any move against a Christian candidate or to take off the running mate choice from the zone, would boomerang and further divide the party along ethnic and religious lines
The group, therefore, urged Tinubu, President Muhammadu Buhari, party leaders and elders from the North-Central zone to settle for a young and vibrant Christian out of the “array of credible individuals that fits the bill of the vice-presidential candidate for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
“This has become instructive given the attempt by some selfish individuals who are bent on scheming the North-Central out of the affairs of the country, especially in the buildup to the 2023 General elections.
“The North-Central APC Stakeholders Forum frowns at such a despicable plot considering the innumerable contributions of the North Central in the growth and development of the APC over the years.
“It remains a statement that the North-Central is a critical region in the country. As such, it would be against all known political strategies for the region to be alienated in the present permutations towards securing victory at the elections.
“The APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, must come to terms with choosing his running mate for the elections. Consequently, the APC North-Central Stakeholders Forum wishes to inform Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be wary of those that have constituted themselves around him as electoral strategists.
“We are aware of the plot to ensure that the vice presidential slot is not given to a Christian APC member from any North-Central state for inexplicable reasons. This is on the heels that such a move would spell doom for the party.
“They have been ferocious in this regard. As stakeholders in the North-Central region, we know that such a move would boomerang and further divide the party along ethnic and religious lines.
“The APC Presidential Candidate must rise to the occasion and resist every form of pressure mounted on him by these selfish individuals against the idea of a Christian running mate from the North-Central region of the country.
“It is on the strength of the above that we demand that the vice-presidential slot be given to a vibrant and young candidate from the Middle Belt. This is necessary to ensure a balanced and strategic team that would guarantee electoral success at the elections.
“We are also using this medium to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to see that the APC gets it right regarding its choice of running mate to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is necessary to ensure that the party records outstanding victory at the polls.
“President Muhammadu Buhari must also recognise that the North Central region in the country holds the ace in the presidential elections, and little wonder why the opposition parties have been making strategic advancements in the region to secure electoral victory.
“The APC must not allow any form of discontent in the North Central by denying the region of the vice-presidential slots, as there are an array of credible candidates that fits the bill of the vice-presidential candidate for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The hawks that want the party’s downfall are unfortunately parading themselves as stakeholders of the party. At the same time, they are out to satisfy their selfish interest and not the well-being of the party as a whole.
“The APC North-Central Stakeholders Forum is also using this medium to call on prominent Middle Belt elders to rise in defence of the Middle Belt in the political scheming in the country. The strategic importance of such cannot be overemphasised.
“They must ensure that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not misled as the indicators point to the fact that the APC Presidential candidate is on the verge of making a grave mistake should he choose a running mate outside the middle belt region.
“The consequences of such a move might not be palatable for the party in the presidential elections, hence the need for caution in the choice of vice-presidential candidate of the APC.
“We wish to call on elders of the APC in the Middle Belt region to protect the region’s interest by ensuring that the APV nominates its vice-presidential candidate from the Christian community in North Central,” they had argued.
The argument against Muslim-Muslim ticket had attracted reactions from various angles, since Tinubu clicked the presidential ticket of the ruling APC.
Mid-June, a group of party men and women under the aegis of APC National Stakeholders had kicked against calls from some quarters over considering a Muslim running mate for Tinubu, stating such would instigate more division in the country.
In a communique read by Engr. Aliyu Audu at the end of its meeting, the stakeholders had said, “Why we are conscious of the fact that religion should not be a determining factor in our leadership selection process, the peculiar circumstance the nation finds herself calls for reflection in the decisions we take, so long as they bother on our national lives
“Today, the country is deeply divided within our fault lines of ethnicity and religion and we cannot afford to jettison this sensibilities in critical decision making. This is why we think that the All Progressives Congress must be guided by the sense of these sensibilities in the selection of the Vice Presidential Candidate of the party.
“To do otherwise would be to further fuel what divides us and give room for mischief makers to take advantage of our differences. Nigeria is in dire need of good governance and this can come from either a Muslim leader or a Christian leader.
“But in the spirit of nationalism, justice and fairness which the northern governors demonstrated a few days ago, the leaders of the north on whose shoulder the emergence of the Vice Presidential candidate rests must also demonstrate this spirt by ensuring that the candidate comes from the Christian faith.
“The northern APC has in its fold capable individuals from the Christian faith with proven track record that can deliver just like anyone from the other faith. Their capability to deliver on the ideals of party aside, they also have the capacity to win elections for the party. Suffice to add that no individual wins elections for any political party, it is the collective of all and we are sure the APC can achieve this.”
Resistance against a Muslim-Muslim ticket has been shown vehemently from non political bodies as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), an Arewa Coalition.
Similarly, the National Coalition for Democracy, Peace and Unity (NCDPU) on Sunday rejected the idea of picking a Muslim as running mate for Tinubu.
According to the group, there was no need for the palpable tension caused by the Muslim-Muslim ticket rumours at this critical period, when APC has a Christian Governor such as Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong.
It also urged Tinubu to avoid being put under by few selfish persons to pick a running mate against the wish of Nigerians.
The Group in a Communique issued at the end of a one-day political summit held in Kaduna State, where they resolved to work with only political parties and candidates with considerations for the diversity and regional interests of Nigeria, called on all political parties to strike a balance along religious and ethnic lines for a united and peaceful coexistence.
They said the topic of the one-day summit “The 2023 Presidential Elections; Need for a United and Peaceful Nigeria” was carefully selected to discuss the best approach to addressing the issues overheating the polity ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The Communique jointly signed by the National Coordinator and Secretary; Comrade Ibrahim Ringim and Comrade Peter Emmanuel further reads, “As concerned democrats, we are deeply worried about the potential threats and political crisis that would be created if the ruling party resolved to consider a Muslim-Muslim ticket during the forthcoming 2023 Presidential elections.
“The need for the political summit was informed by the palpable tension stirred up by regional agitations and the impending crisis the idea of Muslim-Muslim ticket could cause. Thus, we are asking all political parties to strike a balance along religious and ethnic lines for a united and peaceful coexistence.
“After an exhaustive deliberation by the Executive Members on the way forward for a sustainable peace and progress of our dear country, we resolved that in the interest of National Unity, it is good to for ruling party APC and its Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pick a Christian running mate in the same manner the main opposition party PDP has done.”
The Group however, suggested that as the only Christian Governor in the party from the North, Mr. Lalong should be considered automatically.
“If APC goes otherwise, it will not only discourage Christians in the party and electorate that are willing to vote the party during the election, but might also create disharmony that will force them to vote other parties with balanced candidates.
“At this critical moment where the corporate existence of Nigeria is threatened, the emphasis on unity and progress should be of paramount importance to all political parties and Presidential Candidates,” the group held.
Meanwhile, as arguments over zoning and balancing persists, political support mobilisation groups have begun to take off from the North, on Sunday, the Concerned Northern APC Youth Forum reiterated commitment and support to Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state, saying it is awaiting the Governor’s directive on whether to direct their weight of support to Tinubu as APC’s Presidential candidate.
The Chairman and Convener of the forum, Hon. Suleiman Liba, who spoke to journalists, said until now, the group with over a 5,000 members in each of the 19 northern states, was still waiting and will consult with Umahi very soon on the way forward.
According to him, whatever direction given to them by the Governor is what the group will follow.
Recall in June, Tinubu had amidst pressure of demands and controversies declared he was still searching and consulting for the choice his running mate.
