The ruling All Progressives Congress has clarified that, despite the widespread endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, other party members interested in the presidency will still be free to contest for the party’s ticket during the primaries.
APC’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Mohammad Argungu, disclosed this today at an interactive session with journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
He reaffirmed that the party’s leadership, including the National Working Committee, the Progressives Governors Forum led by Senator Hope Uzodinma, and the National Assembly leadership under Senator Godswill Akpabio, had endorsed President Tinubu for re-election in recognition of his outstanding performance, reports The PUNCH.
However, Argungu stressed that the APC, being a party committed to democratic principles, would not deny any aspirant the chance to challenge Tinubu for the ticket in a free and open primary election
He stated, “We will definitely not close our doors (other Presidential aspirants). When the time comes, our timetable will be made known. Anybody who wants to aspire for the presidency under the APC will not be denied the opportunity to purchase the expression of interest and nomination forms to exercise their franchise.
“We never said we had locked the door. We are only telling people that we appreciate what the President is doing for the people of the country and that he deserves a second term in office when we roundly endorsed him recently.”
The Sokoto-born politician spoke in reaction to the question of whether the APC would emulate the Peoples Democratic Party, which printed just one form and reserved it specially for the then-President Goodluck Jonathan to vie as the sole Presidential aspirant in October 2014.
Responding to the party’s performance in the recent by-election, the APC National Organising Secretary attributed the victory in 13 out of 16 contested seats to the grace of Almighty Allah and the dedication of the party’s leaders, members, and supporters across the country.
He stated, “This is a remarkable achievement and a reaffirmation of the confidence Nigerians continue to repose in the APC.
“These victories are not just statistics; they are a reaffirmation of the trust Nigerians continue to place in the APC. They demonstrate the strength, resilience, and growing acceptance of our party nationwide.
“They reflect the belief of the Nigerian people in our capacity to deliver purposeful leadership and good governance.”