2023 APC Special National Convention: Journey to electing presidential flagbearer of the ruling party
After All Progressives Congress, APC has postponed its presidential primary election by a week with so many crises, aspirants are delegates are set to elect their candidate today.
A total number of 2322 delegates are expected to vote having picked 3 delegates each from the 774 local government areas in the country. However, 2203 delegates were accredited and actually participated in the voting exercise.
Already, delegates are seated at the convention venue according to their state stands and President Muhammadu Buhari is seated as well and the event has kickstarted in earnest with speeches from the chairman of the Convention planning committee, Senator Hope Uzodima, Imo State Governor, the APC Chairman, Senator Abdulahi Adamu, National Secretary, Iyore Omisore et cetera.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, in his speech to the convention, urged members to elect a Presidential Candidate without rancour.
He said the Party should emerge stronger than it is after the convention.
On his part, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Iyiola Omisore, said the party is well-positioned for all-around success.
He added that with over 45 Million members the All Progressives Congress has ensured inclusiveness in Politics for a majority of Nigerians.
The Convention is expected to produce a Presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress to square up against former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, of the People’s Democratic Party in the 2023 General Election.
The Contest is between 23 aspirants with the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, Former Education Minister, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Former Abia State Governor, Ogbonnaya Onu, Cleric, Tunde Bakare among others.
The aspirants have been given two minutes each to address the delegates after which voting started though after the speech of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Reflecting on the build-up to the convention, yesterday, the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu threw caution to the wind when he announced the president of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan as a consensus candidate.
His action generated a serious crisis as northern progressive governors and members of the party’s National Working Committee disagreed with him.
They stormed out of the meeting and vowed not to align with the personal opinion of Adamu.
The governors had earlier ceded the candidacy to the south and maintained again on Monday that they had not shifted ground.
Also, President Muhammadu Buhari dissociated himself from Adamu’s action as he called all the aspirants and delegates to go to the field to test their popularity.
It is a day of decision and perhaps destiny for whosoever will emerge from APC to face the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in 2023 general election.
Thirteen aspirants went into the election while seven stepped down with 6 supporting Asuwaju Bola Tinubu and one for the Vice President. Three candidates withdrew from the race.
