…Tasks them on internal cohesion ahead of party convention
President Muhammadu Buhari has told State governors of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), that he would want to pick his successor and needs them to support him to do so.
Buhari stated this yesterday, at a meeting with governors elected on the APC platform at the State House, Abuja.
The President, during the meeting, minced no words when he stated that he recognises the need to provide strong leadership, as the APC prepares for its presidential primary election on June 6.
Stopping short of announcing who his preferred successor would be among a bevy of heavyweight party chieftains, President Buhari charged the State governors to ensure that the forthcoming convention to pick a presidential candidate reflects all the values and virtues of the party.
He also stated the factors he would consider in supporting a presidential candidate among the 25 persons seeking to fly the APC flag.
“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”, the President said at the meeting, which was also attended by the APC national chairman.
Buhari told the governors that he realises the ‘compelling need’ for him to provide ‘stronger leadership to the party under this transition process’. The stronger leadership, he emphasised, is not only to ensure that APCs electoral fortunes improve but also to ensure that the party ‘retains power at the centre’ by winning the presidential election.
The APC holds its presidential primary from June 6 to 8.
