Purchase of N45 million form for Buhari in order ― APC

THE All Progressives Congress, (APC) on Friday said that there was no contravention of the electoral act when a group purchase the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms worth N45 million, for President Muhammadu Buhari.

The party, however, expressed shock that when former Vice President Atiku Abubakar enjoyed the same gesture from his supporters to purchase the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms for the 2019 presidential election, no eyebrow was raised from any quarters.

The party in a statement issued by the acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yekini Nabena, to counter a newspaper report on the purchase of forms for President Buhari’s reelection bid.

The newspaper had cited section 91 (9) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended). which read: “No individual or other entity shall donate more than one million naira (N1, 000, 000.00) to any candidate.”

But the party spokesperson said that “it is pertinent to advise that Thisday Newspaper as a reputable news outlet ought to restrain itself from such sensational reportage and avail its team with good legal advice before rushing to a conclusion based on erroneous legal grounds.

“Aside from the fact that there is a world of difference between an “Aspirant” and a “Candidate” in the eyes of the law, there has been no contravention of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

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The Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN) was responsible for the purchase of the Presidential Form for President Muhammadu Buhari and has indicated that it acted as a collection medium to aggregate micro-contributions from thousands of Nigerians keen to ensure his re-election.

“While we restate that as a political Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) mandate observance and compliance with the dictates of the law, we also acknowledge that this singular act by thousands of Nigerians severely jolted the ranks of opposition politicians and their paid agents in the media hence their desperate attempt to tar such a noble gesture with the brush of illegality.

“This is especially the case considering the loud silence of Thisday Newspapers when former Vice President Atiku Abubakar enjoyed the same gesture from his supporters to purchase the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms for the 2019 presidential election”, the spokesperson stated.