Zoning: APC Decides After Presidential Aspirants’ Screening — Adamu

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, says the decision on zoning by the ruling party will be taken only after its 2023 presidential aspirants have been fully screened.

Adamu said no decision would be taken until its aspirants were all screened, adding; “We have not produced our candidate for the presidency yet, we have to screen the aspirants to know the way forward.

“We have aspirants from across the country in the presidential race. We will make the decision when we get there”, the former Governor of Nasarawa State said

This is as he said also that though the country is currently facing numerous challenges, APC remains the direction for all Nigerians, and God willing, the party will retain power in next year’s general elections.

Speaking on the party’s zoning arrangement in an interview with selected Hausa service media organisations late on Wednesday night, the APC National Chairman explained that the presidential aspirants would be scrutinized in line with the party’s guidelines for the 2023 general elections.

On the high number of aspirants seeking the Party’s presidential ticket, Senator Adamu said interested members could not be denied the right to contest for the nation’s highest office, adding; “You can’t stop our party stalwarts from contesting elections or aspiring for the presidency. It is their right, and we are happy for them.

“There is nothing wrong with anybody aspiring for the exalted seat of the president, it is God that decides who gets what. We have 28 aspirants for the presidential ticket, and everybody knows that all of them cannot get the ticket. If it’s God’s wish, they all can even be president of the country one after the other.

“Our goal is to ensure justice in the choice of who emerges as the candidate of the party, that does not mean we are perfect, but we pray we do the right thing.”

On the possibility of APC adopting the type of consensus arrangement that produced him as its Chairman, Senator Adamu said the chairmanship position is not the same as that of the president, stressing that there was no comparison between the two positions.

“However, the party has laid down its rules and regulations for the aspirants, we would scrutinize all of them based on our guidelines to be sure we pick the right candidate for the party,” he said.

Debunking insinuations the high number of presidential aspirants is a subtle ploy to extend the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari in office, the APC National Chairman said; “I can only say that God will deal with those behind such insinuations. President Buhari had 2019 declared that he would not seek a tenure extension.

“He told everybody and swore with the Qur’an that he would not breach constitutional provision on his two terms tenure. The issue does not even arise, the president, while performing the Lesser Hajj reiterated this position.

“If there is truth in such talks, none of the aspirants would have procured the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination forms.”

Reacting to allegations that the aspirants were distributing money to delegates, Senator Adamu waved it off saying there is no evidence to that effect, even as he added that no law bars the aspirants from taking their campaigns to delegates.

“I don’t have evidence that aspirants are sharing money with delegates, for me, it’s the delegates that are selling their conscience, which is not proper. Our delegates should know that anybody sharing money can’t be the right candidate for the party and does not mean well for the country. I don’t have a solution for the problem,” he said.

With 145 governorship aspirants and 25 presidential aspirants, Senator Adamu explained that politicians were rushing to the APC because it is the government in power with everyone that matter in the country as its member.

“It is because that is where those that matter in the country are. It didn’t start today; we are the government in power. Today, in spite of all the insults, the APC has an advantage far ahead of other political parties.

Describing the APC as Nigeria’s biggest party now, the National Chairman said that position naturally makes it more attractive to many Nigerians than any other party, adding; “This is where it is happening and any right-thinking politician would naturally gravitate towards the APC.”