There have been insinuations that the All Progressive Congress (APC) is in a serious dilemma over presidential ticket zoning ahead 2023 general election. A source within the party hinted vigil360 that the party was considering the southern part of the country for its ticket to balance the Buhari tenure, but some forces are compelling the party to throw the ticket open for all party members to grab.
This is as the ruling party is mulling how it will cling onto the number one seat in the country amidst the controversy.
An APC chieftain revealed, “Although, from all indications, the next chairman will come from the North that will not stop interested northerners from vying for the APC presidential ticket. We have competent aspirants in the North and the South. We have not made up our minds, but we will go for the best, which will help us retain the presidency in 2023.”
Meanwhile, another source from the party disclosed that the party was still weighing its option before making a final decision.
A party leader from the APC while making an analysis said, “If the chairman and the President come from the North, the worst the party can do is to give the chairman a political appointment and allow his deputy, who will be a southerner to step in. Also, we can retain the present arrangement by retaining a northern chairman and picking our presidential candidate from the south.”
Meanwhile, party chieftains who were pro-south presidency are of the opinion that the ruling party cannot afford to produce a party chairman from the north and still go-ahead to produce the presidential candidate from the north.
It was learned that after February 26th national Convention, the National Executive Committee of the party will meet and discuss the issue at stake.
An APC chieftain who chooses to speak on condition of anonymity said; “We are studying what is going on in the PDP, but NEC will meet after the national convention and decide the best option,” a national officer of the party
This is like the APC National secretary last two weeks stated that the party is yet to make its decision open.
Accordingly, the pan northern political and Cultural Organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum in its opinion suggested that the party may pick its candidate from any part of the country as long as the person is competent to run the office.
Mr. Emmanuel Yawe, the National Publicity Secretary of the forum said, they will allow the political party constitution to reign supreme and follow the dictate of its constitution.
Mr yawe said, “The constitution assigns the responsibility of choosing candidates – presidential candidates included – to the parties. It is an exclusive responsibility.”
“Those socio-cultural organizations going all over Nigeria dictating where presidential candidates must come from know what they are doing, we hope.”
Meanwhile, the ruling party is yet to inform the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its planned National Convention as the preparation for the event is commencing this week.
This is as; the Electoral Act states that any political party planning to hold its national convention must inform INEC at least 21 days prior to its national convention.
As the party fixes its National Convention on the 26th of February, the party has now till February 5th to inform the electoral umpire.
Punch report that the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, the APC had not yet informed the commission.
Oyekanmi said, “The APC has yet to officially notify the commission of its planned convention,”
He explained, “We are fully aware. We send notices to INEC to conduct primaries and congresses. We are fully aware of this. We have a date that we will transmit the letter. We have a particular date when we will send the letter. We are fully aware of our responsibilities, ”PUNCH.
