Consensus candidacy: APC presidential aspirants hold meetings in Abuja

ABUJA–Day and nocturnal meetings have become the
lot of the of the four presidential aspirants of the All
Presidential Congress, APC lately, Vanguard
investigations have revealed.
The meetings which now hold in and outside Abuja
were to essentially reach consensus of who would
eventually fly the flag of the leading opposition party
in the 2015 general elections.
The four aspirants who are jostling for the ticket of the
party and have purchased their nomination forms for
the contest included former Vice President, Atiku
Abubakar and former Head of State, General
Mohammad Buhari.
The two others were the incumbent Governor of Kano
State, Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso and the Founder and
Publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah
who picked his own form last week.
Imo State Governor, Mr. Rochas Okorocha, Vanguard
gathered, is also interested in the office but was yet to
pick his nomination form.
An APC source in Abuja who confided in Vanguard
confirmed the meetings of the presidential aspirants.
A highly placed officer of the party at its national
secretariat in Abuja, the source said the it was a
normal democratic process for the four aspirants to
agree among themselves on who would eventually
become the party’s candidate, saying that anything
short of that would necessity the conduct of primaries
for them.
He however said the party has not, at the moment, set
up any committee for the exercise that is scheduled to
hold on December 8, 2014.
“It is a normal political process. But as a party, we
have not really set a committee. The aspirants
themselves are working to get a consensus. Several
interest groups around the aspirants are also exploring
every opportunity for consensus.
“My understanding of the matter is that, I am sure the
consensus matter that is being will be pursued to the
logical end. Wherever they were unable to produce the
outcome that we want, then we will conduct the
primaries which is democratic too. If one of the
aspirants who bought the form says he doesn’t want
consensus, then we have to conduct the primaries. But
unless all the four aspirants who bought the form agree
on one candidate,” he said.
The source also dismissed the reports that governors
on APC platform were asking for vice presidential plot,
saying that what was important to the party was the
emergence of marketable presidential products.
He said: “I am not aware of the governors asking for
the VP slot. At no forum have I heard that. I am a high
ranking member of the party, if that happened, I should
have known. It is a mere speculation. The important
thing is to produce a candidate and the running mate
that will win vote for us.
“If the running mate will come from the governors, fine.
But to impose a candidate on the party, they cannot.
Ok, now, whether the governors like it or not, a
presidential candidate must emerge, isn’t it? Once the
candidate emerges, he will have a running mate. The
party might have a say but the candidate determines
who his running mate will be.”
Another party source who spoke to Vanguard said that
” a lot of meetings are going on here and there
between the aspirants”.
According to him, it was not clear who the candidate
would be.
But investigations also revealed that Gen. Buhari is
likely to become the presidential candidate of the
party.
His name, sources said, came up each time such topic
was discussed.
“But I do not know who may emerge the candidate
among them. For me, it is Buhari’s name that I keep
hearing”, another source said.
They however added that it would be a difficult issue if
former Vice President Atiku failed to consent to
consensus plan.
For them, Kano State Governor, Kwankwaso and
Leadership Chairman, Isaiah would not be a major
problem but Atiku who they said may not easily step
down for Buahri should the odds Favour him.
Meanwhile, Isaiah while picking his form last week
promised that the aspirants would play the game
according to the rules.
He also expressed optimism of securing the party’s
presidential ticket when asked by Vanguard if he was
frightened by the “big names”.
“We can assure you that we are going to work by the
rules. We are going to ensure to it comes out well
without any rancour in the interest of our party and this
nation because we know how important it is for the
party to win the next election.
“We are doing it on the 8th of December and we have
promised it is going to be rancour free. We will all
support whoever eventually emerges. But I intend to
win”, he said.