Muslim-Muslim ticket: Narrow your search to Northern Christians — APC Group warns PGF

…We will not alter principle of Federal Character in choice of VP — LP

By Uthman Salami and Seun Ibiyemi

The National Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have warned the leadership of the party and the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) to narrow their search for the vice-presidential candidate to a Northern Christian, Nigerian NewsDirect reports.

The group made this known following the raging controversy trailing the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the Party’s Presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party has revealed that the party would not alter the principle of Federal Character in choosing a running mate to its Vice presidential candidate, Peter Obi for the 2023 race.

Recall that the major political parties in the presidential race have intensified wider consultations to select running mates to their respective candidates.

The Convener of the APC National Stakeholders Forum, Speaking at a programme to mark the June 12 Democracy Day, Aliyu Audu said the need to reject the temptation of presenting another Muslim candidate as a running mate will ensure national inclusion and promote national unity.

“Why are we conscious of the fact that religion should not be a determining factor in our leadership selection process? The peculiar circumstance the nation finds itself calls for reflection in the decisions we take, so long as they bother our national lives.

“Today, the country is deeply divided within our fault lines of ethnicity and religion and we cannot afford to jettison this sensibility 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,” he maintained.

He added that anything short of this would further fuel what divides the masses and give room for mischief makers to take advantage of our differences.

According to him, Nigeria is in dire need of good governance, which can come from either a Muslim leader or a Christian leader.

He, however, urged the party that “…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 spirit 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 the 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.”

…We will not alter principle of Federal Character in choice of VP — LP

Yesterday, the Labour Party (LP) said that the party would not alter the principles of federal character in its choice of a vice presidential candidate.

The National Chairman of the Party, Barr. Julius Abure, made this assurance known while speaking in commemoration of Democracy Day.

Abure said the principle of social-religious inclusion and the diversity of the Nigerian workforce and membership of the Labour Party would not be compromised in its choice.

He added that although the decision lies with its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the party’s choice of a vice president will most likely come from the northern region.

“While I want to say that it may be too premature for me to speak, and the constitution also gives the presidential candidate the right to nominate his vice presidential candidate, I feel it would be more proper for the presidential candidate to answer.

“However, I want to assure you that as a party that is reasonable; as a party that believes in equity and justice; as a party that believes in social justice and equal opportunity for all, a vice-presidential candidate that is widely accepted, with powerful credentials, is most likely going to come from the Northern region, there is no doubt about that.”