Consensus arrangement tussle: APC postpones presidential screening exercise indefinitely
…Borno’s delegates will vote for Buhari’s choice, their convictions — Zulum
…As APC Professionals meet Omisore, to organise retreats for party’s aspirants
By Uthman Salami
As speculations and fear over the All Progressives Party (APC) opting for consensus as election mode to determine one out of twenty-five presidential aspirants who will flag the party’s emblem in the forthcoming 2023 elections have become rife and heated, the party has announced the postponement of its Presidential screening exercise, which was initially scheduled to hold today, indefinitely.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Felix Morka, announced the postponement in a statement issued yesterday.
Although neither a new date was announced nor reasons for the postponement was explained, Nigerian NewsDirect reports that this was the second time that the APC National Working Committee would shift the date of the presidential screening after it failed to hold last weekend.
Morka, in the statement yesterday, announced that a new date for the screening exercise would be communicated to the public with no specific date.
The Statement read, “The Screening Exercise for Presidential Aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) earlier scheduled to be held on Monday, May 23rd, 2022, is hereby postponed.
“A new date for the exercise will be announced shortly. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.”
Nigerian NewsDirect also reports that the aspirants expected to participate in the presidential screening exercise include the Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu, ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Niger Delta Development, Sen. Godswill Akpabio.
Others are Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, his Ebonyi State counterpart, Gov. Dave Umahi, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; ex-Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba and former Senate President, Sen. Ken Nnamani.
Similarly, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, his Jigawa State counterpart, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, ex-Zamfara State governor, Sen. Ahmed Yerima, former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, former Imo State Governor, Sen. Rochas Okorocha and former Ogun State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosu are also not left out.
Borno’s delegates will vote for Buhari’s choice, their convictions — Zulum
The Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will play a role in who flies the party’s flag in the 2023 presidential election.
The Governor said this in Maiduguri while hosting the campaign team of Rotimi Ameachi in company of his campaign’s Director General, Ali Ndume, and members of the campaign team during a meeting with delegates and members of the APC in Borno State.
Zulum explained that the Delegates in the State will vote for a credible candidate based on the choice of the president and their convictions.
He said, “Borno State delegates will vote based on their conscience. But again, our leader, General Muhammadu Buhari, is very important in this political equation. We are still waiting for him to tell us what to do and we will follow. His advice is very important, so we have to wait for his advice.
“Nigerians should pray for a good candidate to emerge irrespective of tribe, region or ethnic background but a candidate that will ensure the APC forms the central government come 2023.”
APC Professionals meet Omisore, to organise retreat for party’s aspirants
Meanwhile, the APC Professionals Forum met with the Party’s National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore in Abuja, declaring the Forum’s readiness to organise retreat and symposia for the aspirants in the party.
A delegation led by the acting Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Dr. Nkem Okeke which met with the National Secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore, was emphatic that the party has an untapped pool of professionals that could easily add value to the party’s operations at all levels.
While expressing the Forum’s quest for professionals and technocrats in the party to be given more roles to the leadership of the party, he said, “The narrative has to change to include this untapped pool of party members who have shown more than a passing interest in politics and governance in the country.
“We have quite a number, not only in our midst but also within the rank and file, that are prepared for responsibilities, so we crave the indulgence of the National Working Committee (NWC) to also look in the direction of professionals who are registered APC members.
“As a registered think-tank in the party, it falls within our mandate to contribute our quota to strengthen APC. We have therefore been holding consultations with registered professional bodies in order to woo interested professionals into the party as well as to synergise with them in order to enhance professionalism in governance.
“And while the party is in the midst of electing candidates that will fly our flag in the various elections in 2023, we are hoping to organize conferences, retreats and symposia in partnership with the new APC leadership as part of preparations for the next general elections.”
Welcoming the idea behind the formation of the Forum, Senator Omisore promised to support its initiatives.
He said, “We are prepared to work with you and have no problem including professionals in the activities of the party ahead of the next election.”
