LEADERS
of the merging political parties, under the aegis of All Progressive Congress
(APC), have commenced fresh moves in their search for presidential hopeful
ahead of the 2015 election, sources close to the parties have said.
of the merging political parties, under the aegis of All Progressive Congress
(APC), have commenced fresh moves in their search for presidential hopeful
ahead of the 2015 election, sources close to the parties have said.
Investigations by Sunday Tribune confirmed
that three shades of opinion have already emerged with the groups rooting for
different aspirants.
that three shades of opinion have already emerged with the groups rooting for
different aspirants.
It was revealed that while one of the
groups is in favour of a plan to draft Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa
Kwakwanso, into the race, others are of the view that General Muhammadu Buhari
could run alongside Senator Bola Tinubu in a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
groups is in favour of a plan to draft Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa
Kwakwanso, into the race, others are of the view that General Muhammadu Buhari
could run alongside Senator Bola Tinubu in a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Others are said to be rooting for the
return of former presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria
(ACN), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
return of former presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria
(ACN), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
A meeting of top members of the Congress
for Progressive Change (CPC) held in Abuja was said to have dissected the
developments in the merging parties, indicating that opinions are clearly
divided among leaders of the parties on who to field for the 2015 race.
for Progressive Change (CPC) held in Abuja was said to have dissected the
developments in the merging parties, indicating that opinions are clearly
divided among leaders of the parties on who to field for the 2015 race.
It was also revealed that the parties might
eventually drop the plan to field Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, as the new thinking appears to be in favour of
Kwakwanso.
eventually drop the plan to field Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, as the new thinking appears to be in favour of
Kwakwanso.
A source at the meeting remarked that,
“apart from the associated hiccups regarding registration of the mega political
party, another major problem confronting the merging parties has to do with the
issue of choice of presidential and vice presidential candidates.”
“apart from the associated hiccups regarding registration of the mega political
party, another major problem confronting the merging parties has to do with the
issue of choice of presidential and vice presidential candidates.”
Another source revealed that the search for
the presidential hopeful has led to the emergence of three distinct groups
bordering on the interest of the respective groups.
the presidential hopeful has led to the emergence of three distinct groups
bordering on the interest of the respective groups.
One of the groups is said to have started
canvassing that Kano State governor be dragged into the APC to contest as
presidential candidate of the party, with the South-West geopolitical zone
producing the vice-presidential candidate.
canvassing that Kano State governor be dragged into the APC to contest as
presidential candidate of the party, with the South-West geopolitical zone
producing the vice-presidential candidate.
Another group is said to be agitating for
the choice of General Buhari alongside Senator Tinubu, while a third, made up
of the young Turks in the parties, is said to be agitating for the emergence of
Ribadu.
the choice of General Buhari alongside Senator Tinubu, while a third, made up
of the young Turks in the parties, is said to be agitating for the emergence of
Ribadu.
It was further revealed that those
canvassing the choice of Governor Kwakwanso have argued that the APC could be
constrained with campaign funds and that the party does not need to source
funds from foreign land to make impact.
canvassing the choice of Governor Kwakwanso have argued that the APC could be
constrained with campaign funds and that the party does not need to source
funds from foreign land to make impact.
Another source added that those clamouring
for Kwakwanso saw him as a no-nonsense and strong personality, while also
pointing to his perceived good performance and stewardship in Kano State.
for Kwakwanso saw him as a no-nonsense and strong personality, while also
pointing to his perceived good performance and stewardship in Kano State.
He is also said to possess the needed
financial clout which would come handy during the electioneering.
financial clout which would come handy during the electioneering.
“Kwankwanso is seen as the better option
and alternative the APC would have if there should be problems over the chances
of Buhari’s candidacy,” said a source.
and alternative the APC would have if there should be problems over the chances
of Buhari’s candidacy,” said a source.
Source: Tribune
