You’re Undemocratic, Unfair – Ex-APC Presidential Aspirant Knocks Govs, NWC Over Tinubu’s Endorsement
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former presidential aspirant in the 2019 election, Charles Udeogaranya, says the public endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 election by the National Working Committee (NWC) and the Party’s Governors Forum is undemocratic and should be discouraged
Berating the Party’s Leadership, for deciding to take such undemocratic route, Udeogaranya maintained that not subjecting the President to a primary election in the same manner he clinched the party ticket in 2023, will ultimately deprive prospective aspirants the opportunity of bringing to the table creative ideas driven by patriotism, goodwill, prosperity and good governance for a better Nigeria
The Party Chief, who voiced his concern in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja, said there should be ‘no room for automatic tickets’ on the APC platform as that could portray an act of cowardice and a self-serving agenda.
He said, “There is no room for consensus in continuous hunger and chronic poverty in Nigeria, no room for consensus in economic quagmire, no room for consensus on insecurity in Nigeria, no room for consensus on nepotism in Nigeria, no room for consensus on cluelessness in Nigeria and no room for me, I and myself in the leadership of Nigeria.”
According to him, “Consensus is far from it”, adding; “While I deeply and respectfully appreciate my fellow APC members on their Abuja summit, may I also respectfully inform you that democracy was birthed by Thomas Jefferson in his declaration of the United States Independence in 1776.
“His declaration, which was further entrenched by Abraham Lincoln at his speech in Gettysburg 1863 and globally expressed by Martin Luther King Jnr in his Washington 1963 speech, will not fail in Nigeria, come 2027″.
For Udeogaranya, APC’s leadership and members, but most importantly Nigerians, should jettison the idea of sole candidacy because he is ready contest the presidency and challenge President Tinubu for the APC ticket come 2027.
He said his decision is fueled by the urgent need to reset the country on the path of socio-economic growth and development anchored on creative ideas, nationalism, and prosperity for all citizens.
However, in defending the development, the APC’s Deputy National Organising Committee Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, argued that the ruling party did the right thing.
“The President has a right of first refusal. If he, however, declines the offer to run for a second term in office, we can then be talking about a primary,” he insisted.
The reactions are coming barely 24 hours after the 22 APC governors and the Party’s leadership unanimously backed Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate for the 2027 poll.
The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, announced the endorsement on Thursday at the APC National Summit held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.
Uzodimma moved the motion for Tinubu’s adoption as the APC’s sole candidate for the 2027 Presidential poll, and this was seconded by the PGF Vice Chairman, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State.
The APC summit in Abuja on Thursday that endorsed President Tinubu as the Party’s sole candidate had in attendance the National leadership, governors, and National Assembly lawmakers, among others.
Meanwhile, some top members of the Party, who attended the National Summit in Abuja, have expressed their reservations over the endorsement, hinting that it smacks of a larger selfish agenda by elected officials on the APC’s platform.
Not wanting their names in print now for obvious reasons, they hinted that having successfully made the case for Mr President, the next step would be for the governors seeking second tenures and other elected officials to canvass the same position down the line for their personal benefits.
“From all indications, this is what may likely play out in the coming days ahead of the 2027 general elections and ultimately, many aspirants in the party will be schemed out of contesting for elective offices of their choice”, one of the top insiders voiced the stakeholders’ concerns in a chat with Forefront News.