President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the governors of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) to support him in picking his successor.
Gatekeepers News earlier reported that President met with the Progressive Governors’ Forum before leaving for Spain on Tuesday.
The President described the meeting as “part of the consultative processes that have always strengthened the internal dynamics of our Party, the All Progressives Congress, (APC).”
Buhari attributed the successes of the electoral process that brought him to power and retained him after another election to “the ability of the party to hold consultations and for its members to put the nation above other interests.”
The President said, “The transition processes for thee 2023 General Elections have commenced in earnest and I note that the most successful Political Parties globally have always relied on their internal cohesion and a strong leadership brand to achieve bigger electoral fortunes. Our party, the APC, shall not be any different, more so as we are still implementing the blueprint for a more prosperous nation.
“As I begin the final year of my second term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and leader of the Party, I recognize the compelling need for me to provide stronger leadership to the Party under this transition process and to ensure that it happens in an orderly manner.
“Such leadership is required so that the Party remains strong and united. It is also needed to improve our electoral fortunes by ensuring that it retains power at the center, holds the great majority in various legislative chambers, and also gains additional number of states at state levels.”
Buhari added that “In pursuit of the foregoing objectives, the Party has successfully established internal policies that promote continuity and smooth succession plans even at the state and local government levels. For example, first-term Governors who have served credibly well have been encouraged to stand for re-election. Similarly, second term Governors have been accorded the privilege of promoting successors that are capable of driving their visions as well as the ideals of the party.”
On the Party’s forthcoming Convention in where primaries would take place to pick the APC’s Presidential Flag Bearer for the 2023 General Elections, the President appealed to the Governors to allow their interests to converge.
The President further urged them to allow, “our focus to remain on the changing dynamics of our environment, the expectations of our citizens and the global community. Our objective must be the victory of our party and our choice of candidate must be someone who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the elections.”
The No. Citizen of Nigeria, therefore, “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.
“I wish to assure you that the consultation process shall continue to ensure that all aspirants and stakeholders would be brought on board right through to the convention. This would also ensure that any anxiety occasioned by different factors are effectively brought under control and that our party emerges stronger.”
Meanwhile, today marks Day 2 and the last day of the screening of the presidential hopefuls of the party.
The APC had announced that its presidential primary election will hold between June 6 and 8
