No decision yet on mode of selecting, electing APC Presidential candidate – Adamu

Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said on Thursday that the party had not decided on the mode of electing or selecting a presidential candidate for the 2023 polls.

Adamu, who emerged through a consensus about a week ago at the party’s National Convention held in Abuja from among other six contestants, said the options — direct primaries, indirect and consensus – would be considered for its primaries.

The party helmsman, who paid a “Thank You’’ visit to President Muhammadu Buhari told State House correspondents:“When we get there, we will talk alright, but the options are there; direct primaries, indirect and consensus. The party has a choice which of these paths to take.’’

Persecondnews recalls that sources within party had speculated that the party leadership would adopt consensus to pick or elect its presidential candidate.

So far, aspirants who have declared interest in running for the party’s ticket during the primaries include Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Ebonyi Gov. Dave Umahi, his Kogi counterpart, Yahaya Bello, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the only female, Ibinabo Joy Dokubo

On the new National Executive Committee’s agenda for the party, Adamu  said: “So far, we are still on the foundation, we are just one week since handing over. There isn’t much I will tell the public at this point in time.

“But the President as the head of this party, we owe him a duty to say, as of today, seven, eight days since our taking over, this is how far we have gone, these are things we are doing, our preparations for the forthcoming election, we have to inform him of how things are.

“The party, how we are trying to reform the party, the best we can so that the party can prepare itself for the forthcoming election. These are some of the things that are very fundamental to the life of any party preparatory to the general election that we are facing.’’

On his visit to Buhari, the APC chair, who was accompanied by Yobe Gov.  and ex-chairman of the party’s Caretaker/Convention Committee, Mai Mala Buni, said:

“We all need our father, the President of Nigeria as a hurry. For since the end of the Convention that took place on the 26th of March, we have not come to meet with him to thank him for providing leadership for the party to have a successful convention.

“The opportunity came today, so I am here with the immediate past chairman of our great party, in the person of the Governor of Yobe States, who headed the special caretaker committee that organized a very historic National Convention.

“Since the history of democracy in this country; First Republic, Second Republic, up to where we are today, I don’t remember any convention, the size we held. I don’t remember any convention that there were misgivings about the possibility of its success than this one.

“We came out clean and we thought the leadership that Mr. President provided the party has made all this possible.  So, I came with my predecessor, to come and touch base with the President and to, with gratitude, inform him that we have fully handed over.’’

Adamu also declared: “I’m in charge of this party, by the grace of God, we will be honest, we will take the trust that is placed on us with every sense of patriotism.’’