…Says APC’ll only win presidency if it plays by the rule
Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has alleged a gang-up against him by northern All Progressives Congress (APC) governors who he claimed have excluded him from aspirants eligible to contest the party’s presidential ticket.
He told newsmen, while emerging from President Muhammadu Buhari’s office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday, that not allowing him to vie for the ticket is a recipe for chaos.
According to him, he is the overwhelming favourite to clinch the ticket if there is a transparent and credible process.
Bello said he cannot withdraw from the race unless told to do so by President Buhari. He added that the president has not told him to step down from the race.
The governor said he was not consulted by the governors who wanted him out of the race, even as he maintained his objection to rotational presidency, saying: “Nobody consulted me over the decision that they took and I will rather say that they were railroaded by certain interest who wants to be VP at all costs.
While affirming that he would be the candidate in a fair exercise, Bello stated:
“I am a free citizen, a free member of the party, a qualified member of the party, I am contesting; I bought the form. I was cleared to participate in the election, and there is no reason for me to be excluded from the ballot.
“If they do so, then that is a recipe for bigger trouble for the party. However, I don’t think it’s a decision of the party. It is a decision of few elites, who may decide to use their whatever position to suppress the so-called minority”.
On whether he would be willing to step down if pressured to do so, he explained: “I respect President Muhammadu Buhari, the leader of our party, and I respect the party. If the President asks me to step down, I will do so. Only Mr. President.
“Mr. President did not ask anyone to step down. He said let the delegates decide who becomes the flagbearer of our party and he did not say anyone should be excluded.”
The governor said the APC would retain power if it followed due process.
