President Muhammadu Buhari urged APC presidential candidates to confer among themselves and choose a formidable candidate ahead of the party’s presidential primary elections on Monday, June 6, 2022.
Buhari spoke during a meeting with the APC presidential hopefuls at State House, Abuja, according to a statement signed on Saturday, June 4, by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
‘President Buhari to APC presidential aspirants: consult, establish consensus, and come up with a formidable candidate,’ reads the statement.
“Without prejudice to your qualifications, I urge all of you to hold consultations amongst yourselves and with the party, with a view to building a consensus in a manner that would help the party reduce the number of aspirants, bring up a formidable candidate and scale down the anxiety of party members,” Buhari said.
According to Adesina, the President said the meeting is the second of a series of consultations with party stakeholders to ensure that the unity and cohesion of the party are sustained and to provide direction.
Recalling the consultation he had held with stakeholders “that would help the electoral fortunes of our party, beginning with the State Governors. This is the second in the series and I still look forward to meeting with party stakeholders. These steps are being taken to ensure that the unity and cohesion of the party are sustained and to provide direction.”
Buhari acknowledged that there is concern among party members about the outcome of the forthcoming presidential primary; which will determine which candidate would represent the party in next year’s presidential election.
“Given these circumstances,” he said, “I charge you to recognize the importance of the stability and unity of the party, which cannot be overemphasized.
“Similarly, I wish to remind you that our choice of flag bearer must be formidable, appealing to the electorate across the board and should command such ability to unify the country and capacity to address our critical challenges.
“Ahead of the Convention, the party machinery has screened and found all aspirants eminently qualified. Recognizing this fact, the Screening Committee has, amongst others, recommended that consensus building through consultation, be intensified.
“Without prejudice to your qualifications, I urge all of you to hold consultations amongst yourselves and with the party, with a view to building a consensus in a manner that would help the party reduce the number of aspirants, bring up a formidable candidate and scale down the anxiety of party members.”
The President assured attendees that in the interest of the nation and the party, he would continue to provide effective leadership during the transition processes and on-going consultations, “until we successfully make the choice on the candidate that will fly the flag of our party for the presidential elections and make the party stronger. I seek your support in this all-important responsibility.”
