Adesina Debunks Claims of Consensus Candidate for APC Primary

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has debunked the report that his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari,  gave Governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress the right to choose a consensus candidate.

Adesina stated this in a piece titled, ‘Visit to Spain: Let’s Buga for Mr President’. He noted that the President only met with the governors and gave his “expectation” for the forthcoming presidential primary of the party.

He clarified that the president never discussed issues bordering on zoning, consensus, or imposition of candidates during his conversation with the governors.

According to him, Buhari only informed them of his expectations at the party’s presidential primary election.

He said, “No word about zoning, consensus, or imposition of candidate. He just charged them to let their plans converge so that the party would put its best foot forward. Shortly after the meeting, we headed for the airport.

“A short time into the five-hour flight, I went on social media to see that all hell had broken loose. Trust some Nigerians. When there’s no controversy, they create one. They will die of boredom if they don’t have something to wail or ululate about.

“What were they bellyaching on? He used ‘my successor’ instead of ‘APC candidate.’ That means he wants to rig the election. Otiose.

“Oh, he talked about Governors who performed well being allowed to get a second term for continuity. That means he wants to impose someone within the government to succeed him. Consensus is what he wants. Puerile.

“Is consensus not one of the acceptable ways of choosing candidates, according to the Electoral Act? So the party can jolly well decide on the method it wants.

“Oh, he didn’t talk about zoning. APC wants to give its ticket to the North. Really? Did you see anything like that in the speech?

“I tell you. When some Nigerians don’t see what they expect in a speech or statement, they conjure and create their own. And the wailing starts.”

Buhari had, on Tuesday, while addressing the governors ahead of the party’s presidential primary slated for Monday, said, “The party has successfully established internal policies that promote continuity and smooth succession plans even at the state and local government levels.

“For example, first-term governors who have served credibly well have been encouraged to stand for re-election. Similarly, second-term governors have been accorded the privilege of promoting successors that are capable of driving their visions as well as the ideals of the party.”

“In keeping with the established internal policies of the party and as we approach the convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.”

“As we approach the convention, I appeal to all of you to allow our interests to converge, our focus to remain on the changing dynamics of our environment, the expectations of our citizens, and the global community.

“Our objective must be the victory of our party. Our choice of a candidate must be someone who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the elections,” the President added.