National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai MohammedThe All Progressives Congress has said that its presidential candidates will emerge through transparent primaries.The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who stated this in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, said the party would neither give preference to any zone nor fix positions for candidates from any part of the country for the 2015 general elections.
Mohammed was reacting to a report that the APC had zoned the presidency to the North and the vice-presidency to the South-East. The report had said that the party zoned the vice-presidency to the South-East to break the stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party in the area.
But the APC spokesman said, “There is no zoning in our constitution. Our presidential candidate will emerge through a transparent process. Nigerians are interested in how our presidential candidate will emerge. We won’t disappoint them.”
He also explained that in choosing its presidential candidate, the party would abide by Nigeria’s constitution.
According to him, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria spells out what a presidential candidate must possess.
He said the constitutional requirements were superior to any other requirement of the law, adding “We also have in our own constitution, which is very akin to what the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria says as to who can be a President.
“The thing is that you cannot raise the bar. For instance, if the constitution of Nigeria says to be a President, all you need is first degree, you cannot say because it is APC, you must have a Master’s degree. Our own constitution is very much like the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Mohammed also explained that all incumbent governors and other aspirants of the party would go through primaries.
The APC spokesman was asked if the incumbent governors of the party would be given automatic tickets in 2015. He said, “I am not aware of that. Like I keep telling you folks, you can’t circumvent the constitution of the party. Look at even Anambra, there will be primaries. The constitution is very clear, there will be primaries.”
The incumbent APC governors, who are entitled to second term include Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa); Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara); Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Kashim Shettima (Borno).
Governorship aspirants that will slug it out with the incumbents have been emerging in some of the states.
In Ogun State, the posters of a banker and a former vice-presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Fola Adeola, were in strategic parts of the state capital, Abeokuta, a few weeks ago.
In Ekiti State, a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, has indicated interest in the state governorship seat.
In Oyo State, Senator Femi Lanlehin may contest the party governorship ticket with the incumbent governor.
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