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Northern governors kick against Adamu’s move to impose Lawan as APC consensus presidential candidate
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullah Adamu has announced Senate president Ahmad Lawan as a consensus presidential candidate for the party amidst strong opposition by Northern governors and other stakeholders.
Adamu announced the choice of Lawan during the meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party on Monday, in Abuja.
Adamu told the NWC that he arrived at the choice of Lawan after consultation with President Buhari.
However, some members of the NWC, sources said, kicked against the move and insisted that other Presidential aspirants which include Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and Dr Kayode Fayemi, Engr. David Umahi must be allowed to contest the primary election at tomorrow’s convention scheduled at Eagle Square, Abuja.
Adamu’s adoption of Lawan as a consensus candidate is against the position of 11 APC northern governors who endorsed that power must shift to the South after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
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Reacting to the move, some APC northern governors raced to Aso Villa to meet with Buhari.
The meeting is coming a day before the commencement of the party’s convention to elect its presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections.
Although Buhari has maintained his position on the consensus arrangement, there has not been any agreement among the 23 presidential aspirants.
Buhari also reportedly told the governors had not anointed any aspirants as his successor.
The meeting with the APC governors from the North is the fourth parley in his effort to ensure that the party presents a consensus candidate so as to reduce acrimony that may arise at the end of the convention.
The governors in attendance are the Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum and governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, chairman of Northern governors Forum and governor of Plateau State, Simeon Lalong, Abubakar Baduru (Jigawa) and Babagana Zulum (Borno).
Others are Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Bello Matawale (Zamfara), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Yahaya Inuwa (Gombe), Abubakar Bello (Niger), and the Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni.
