Ahead of the 2023 general election, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has indicated that all Nigerians are free to contest for its Presidential ticket and other positions, irrespective of their geopolitical zones.
There has been clamour for power shift to the Southern part of the country when the eight years tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner elected on the platform of APC expired in 2023.
However, APC Governors who are major power brokers, said the party belongs to all Nigerians and everyone from every part of the country is free to aspire for any position in the party in line with provisions of the party’s constitution and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
The APC Governors under the auspices of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) in as statement welcoming Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River who defected to party, said the guiding philosophy as enshrined in the provisions of APC manifesto is economic, social and political development of Nigeria.
The statement signed by PGF Chairman and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku-Bagudu said the decision of Ayade to join the APC is a testament of the party’s capacity to mobilise all Nigerians consistent with the vision of the founding fathers to ensure that the party is a platform to unite all Nigerians.
Atiku-Bagudu also said the coming of Ayade into the APC further reinforces the process of membership and leadership recruitment at all levels.
He stated that the progressive reinforcement of APC continues and the party look forward to receiving more patriots and progressive minded Nigerians into its folds.
“We congratulate our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, whose sterling qualities and fair mindedness endear patriotic Nigerians to the party. Mr. President’s credentials as a fair leader who is impartial will continue to promote our party and serve as a major source of electoral advantage.
“As Progressive Governors, we will remain steadfast in supporting the efforts and initiatives of Mr. President to build our party, APC, as a strong and democratic political party in the country.
“Also, we salute our members of the APC National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee under the leadership of HE Mai Mala Buni for this milestone achievement of once again getting another experienced leader in the person of His Excellency Ben Ayade to join the APC.
“We welcome Mr. Ben Ayade for taking the courageous decision of leaving the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to join our party, the All Progressives Congress. The movement of our compatriot to the APC is indicative of his principles, commitment and conviction to the development of Nigeria.
“Given all his achievements in Cross River State, Mr. Ayade is only coming home where he belongs. APC is indeed the party that will provide him and his people, and indeed all Nigerians the viable platform for political aspirations and negotiations. Together with Mr. Ayade and all our leaders in the APC, our party’s capacity to serve the collective interests of all Nigerians through effective representation will be strengthened and reinforced.
“Our party, APC, is open, transparent and will continue to guarantee fair contestation in politics, in line with the overarching commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari and all our founding leaders. Our National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee has worked hard to restore the political credentials of the APC as a strong institution for Nigeria’s democratic development.
“We will continue to support the National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee in all its current initiatives to rebuild our great party. With the coming of Mr. Ayade, the capacity of our party to mobilise all patriots and other like-minded progressive Nigerians to join the APC is stronger.
“APC belongs to all Nigerians. Everyone, from every part of the country is free to aspire for any position in the party in line with provisions of our party’s constitution and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. The guiding philosophy as enshrined in the provisions of our manifesto is economic, social and political development of Nigeria” the statement added.
