2023: APC will soon pick consensus presidential candidate —Scribe

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that, at the appropriate time, it will come up with a consensus and agreeable presidential candidate that will fly its flag in 2023, debunking rumours that President Muhammadu Buhari has a succession plot. 

The party national secretary, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Senator John James Akpanudoehede, made the clarification on Wednesday in a statement. Akpanudoehede noted that unlike the erstwhile ruling party under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who tried to succeed himself, President Buhari has no third term plot. The APC national secretary maintained that the “APC has no third term agenda like PDP.” 

The statement read in part, “Unlike the opposition, we are a disciplined party. PDP is just being haunted by its past. You will recall the inglorious third term agenda while PDP was in power. So, it is easy to accuse APC now. 

“After our (APC) congresses and the National Convention, we will shock them (PDP) by bringing a consensus and an agreeable candidate that will fly the flag of the party come 2023. APC has no third term agenda like PDP. 

“What we are doing now is to stabilise the party and not allow individual ambitions to derail the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.” Meanwhile, ahead the national convention of the party Akpanudoedehe explained why the interim leadership settled for the consensus option for the election of party officials at all levels. Akpanudoedehe noted that the CECPC was convinced that election, through consensus, would mitigate discord and acrimony that always trail conduct of congresses. 

Article 20 of the APC 2014 Constitution (as amended) on elections and appointments reads, “Unless otherwise provided for, all party posts prescribed or implied by this constitution shall be filled by democratically conducted elections at the respective national convention or congress subject, where possible, to consensus, provided that where a candidate has emerged by consensus for an elective position, a vote of “yes” or “no” by ballot or voice shall be called, to ensure that it was not an imposition which could breed discontent and crisis.” 

The national secretary of the party further revealed that the leadership would only shelve the consensus arrangement, if there was strong opposition to it. 

“For us, we have to take into consideration the need to accommodate everyone because the APC is a party for all Nigerians. 

“We are encouraging states to adopt the consensus arrangement because it saves costs and reduces acrimony. That is why when you look at Article 20 of our constitution which talks about elections, the first thing there is for members to try reaching a consensus. When that fails, then you go to cast ballots. 

“We are making sure we do not leave any room for the opposition, especially the Peoples Democractic Party to sponsor people to cause confusion in our midst.” 

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