APC National Convention, Buhari Withdraws Backing Candidates

President Muhammadu Buhari has withdrawn his endorsement of the candidacy for Senator Adamu Abdulahi as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This is coming shortly after the party caucus in the Senate pulled back behind him.

The Sun had reported that a  source from the presidency has said the decision not to back the former Nassarawa state governor or any of the aspirants is to ensure a level playing field where the best aspirants, who are the choice of the people, can emerge.

“Some people who feel they are close to the President sold the candidature of Senator Adamu to him. Somehow, others too who have Mr President’s ears have also told him the implication of using Adamu as APC national chairman.

“So, Mr President, having listened to both parties now said he is no longer interested in any consensus again. Let there be an open contest where the best person will emerge as the national chairman.

“That is the reason all the aspirants have picked the form. Even those who were initially reluctant to contest after it was reported that the president had endorsed Adamu have collected the forms.

“The president does not need any chairman for any personal ambition. Don’t forget, he is not contesting again, and he has said he will retire to his farm after May 29.

“All he wants is to leave a stronger APC behind with a new set of leadership that can deliver the 2023 general elections to the party. He has no anointed candidate and wishes all the aspirants the very best,” he said.

The report further revealed that the President’s action is not unconnected with the protests by the legacy parties that merged into the APC in 2013.

The defunct legacy parties are the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the defunct CPC from Kano State, Alhaji Farouk Abdulaziz, noted that the group did not support Adamu’s aspiration because he was alien to the ideas of the APC from the foundation.

“We have made our position known to the president, and he promised not to support anyone for the position. As it stands, Adamu Abdulahi cannot claim he has full presidential backing.

“We have nothing against him, but we need someone who was part of the party’s formation from the beginning. The party has ideals, and only those who share those ideals must lead our party.

“It is now going to be an open contest; that is the beauty of democracy, and Mr President insists that all the aspirants cleared for that position must face the delegates.”