Tobias Sylvester
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has countered the position of Abdullahi Adamu, chairman of the party, who adopted the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan as the consensus presidential candidate of the party.
APC Consensus Candidate
KanyiDaily recalls that Adamu had announced Lawan as the consensus candidate, claiming that the NWC arrived at the choice of Lawan after consultation with President Muhammadu Buhari.
However, in a swift reaction, Northern APC governors disagreed with Adamu declaration of Lawan as the party’s consensus candidate, insisting on a Southern presidential candidate for the party.
While addressing journalists at the end of NWC meeting, the APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Mohammed Argungu said members stand with the position of northern Governors that the Presidency should go to the south.
Argungu, who spoke to reporters with eleven members of the NWC, including four National Vice Chairmen, said the APC Chairman was only expressing his own opinion which he was entitled to.
He said, “As you can see, we are all coming from the NWC meeting. We were fully briefed by our national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu who informed us that Senate President, Ahmed Lawan is the consensus candidate for the APC National Convention.
“That is just the information he gave us and not an issue that was discussed on the floor of the NWC.
“As you are aware, a few days ago, the Northern governors met and decided that the leadership of this country should shift to the South. And the southern governors also affirmed that. We the members of the NWC are also with the governors on what they have said.
“Just a few minutes ago, the governors of the party from the North went to the presidency to inform the president that they are still standing on what they said regarding the presidency of this country.
“What the National chairman told us was just an information and all of us are entitled to our opinions because we are all Democrats and can exercise our opinion.
“This was never deliberated by the NWC. It is an information given to us at the NWC and so, we don’t have a divided house.”
KanyiDaily recalls that Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina had also claimed that President Buhari never asked APC governors to select a consensus presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 general elections primaries.
