…Tight security at Eagles square
By Ezeocha Nzeh
Baring any late minute manoeuvre on the emergence of a possible consensus candidate, the 13 cleared Presidential aspirants on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will know their fate today as the party has begun the process of conducting its presidential primary today in Abuja
The 13 aspirants, who were declared cleared by the John Odigie – Oyegun presidential screening committee, will battle for the votes of the party’s 2,340 delegates drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal capital Territory, Abuja
About 28 aspirant purchased the APC presidential nomination forms, which was pegged at N100m, but 23 returned their filled forms to the party,
The number was however pruned down to 13, after the screening panel disqualified 10 aspirants for various reasons
The aspirants have however toured almost the entire states, conversing for votes, in readiness for today’s exercise, which is coming barely nine dats after the major opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has picked its presidential aspirant for the 2023 general elections
The aspirants cleared to face delegates votes at the three day presidential primaries includes the national leader of APC, and former Governor of Lagos state, Bola Ahmed Tin ubu, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; former Minister of Education (State), Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; Governors of Kogi, Yahaya Bello; Ebonyi, Dave Umahi; Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi; Jigawa, Mohammad Badaru Abubakar.
Others are former governors of Rivers State, and immediate past Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; Abia, Ogbonnaya Onu; Godswill Akpabio; Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun; and Jack-Rich Tein, among others.
The Oyegun led screening panel, while recommending the 13 aspirants for the contest stated, “We would also want to advise that should any aspirant not be ready for consensus arrangement, then the party should proceed to conduct elective primaries in strict compliance with the provision of Electoral Act.”
As the party gets prepared for the presidential primaries, following the inauguration of the sub committees at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Sunday, there are strong indications that the party could settle for a Southern presidential candidate, following the agreement by Northern governors of the APC to support power shift tom the South, after the eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari
This decision is sequel to the advice of the president, who hosted the presidential aspirant at the presidential villa at the weekend, with a charge on them to go back and settle for a consensus candidate
All Progressives Congress (APC), from the Northern geo political zones of the country, in their resolve for a Southern presidential candidate, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to support a presidential aspirant from the South.
The Governors stated this in a joint statement, issued by Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Prof. Umara Zulum (Borno), Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe).
Others are, Simon Bako Lalong (Plateau), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Kano), Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and a former governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako.
The statement reads: “APC governors and political leaders from the northern states of Nigeria today met to review the political situation and to further support our Party in providing progressive leadership amidst our national challenges.
“During our discussions, we welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari’s invitation to governors and other stakeholders to contribute to the emergence of a strong presidential candidate for the APC.
“After careful deliberations, we wish to state our firm conviction that after eight years in office, the presidential candidate of the APC for the 2023 elections should be one of our teeming members from the southern states of Nigeria.
“It is a question of honour for the APC, an obligation that is not in any way affected by the decisions taken by another political party. We affirm that upholding this principle is in the interest of building a stronger, more united and more progressive country.
“We, therefore, wish to strongly recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari that the search for a successor as the APC’s presidential candidate be limited to our compatriots from the southern states. We appeal to all aspirants from the northern states to withdraw in the national interest and allow only the aspirants from the South to proceed to the primaries. We are delighted by the decision of our esteemed colleague. His Excellency, Governor Abubakar Badaru to contribute to this patriotic quest by withdrawing his presidential aspiration.
“The APC has a duty to ensure that the 2023 elections offer a nation-building moment, reaffirming that a democratic pathway to power exists for all who value cooperation and build national platforms. This moment calls for the most sober and inclusive approach to selecting our party’s candidate, and we call on all APC leaders to fulfil their responsibility in this regard”.
Meanwhile, less than 24 hours to the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential primary, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police (CP) Babaji Sunday has approved massive deployment of officers in and around the city to ensure a hitch-free event.
The Eagle Square, venue of the APC primary, according to the police will also witness tight security.
The police will effect traffic diversions during the primary around: “the GoodLuck Ebele Jonathan way by Court of Appeal, Behind Court of Appeal, Ecowas by Women Affairs , Finance, Behind Foreign Affairs, Kur Mohammed by National Mosque, Benue Plaza, NITEL junction, Phase 3, NNPC Tower, Ceddi Plaza bridge, Gana street by Transcorp, DSS Headquarters, Phase 1, NASS Junction, Bullet house and Bayelsa House”.
The deployment, the CP said, is also characterised by heavy visibility policing as would be witnessed at the various traffic control points to aid the free flow of traffic, stop and search, vehicular and foot patrol among many others.
According to a statement on Sunday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh: “The All Progressive Congress ( APC) Presidential primary election is scheduled to hold from Monday 6th June to Tuesday 7th June 2022 at Eagle’s Square. The event is often associated with a high influx of different calibers of people especially the politicos thereby requiring an argumentation of the working security architecture of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
“Given the above, to effectively police the territory within the period in view and beyond, an all-encompassing security deployment has been made”.
CP Babaji Sunday, while registering the Command’s unflinching commitment to the sustenance of the relative peace and tranquility enjoyed and a boost in the onward march against crime and criminality in the territory, urged all and sundry to shun all forms of violence during the period in view and beyond.
“In addition to the above, members of the public are urged to remain vigilant, strengthen partnership with the Police as touching the rendition of prompt and actionable intelligence, reporting any suspicious or abnormal occurrence to the Police through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883, While the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk, could be reached on: 0902 222 2352,” he added.
Also recall that Governors of northern extraction in the APC had on Saturday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to support a presidential aspirant from the South. At least, 10 of the governors signed a joint statement to that effect.
Those who signed the statement include Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Abdullahi A. Sule (Nasarawa), Prof. B.G. Umara Zulum (Borno), Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe).
Others were Simon Bako Lalong (Plateau), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Kano), Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and a former Governor of Sokoto state, Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako.
