Journalists designated to cover the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are yet to get accreditated at 11:20 am.
Journalists were left unattended to as they waited for accreditation tags for onward movement to the Eagles Square, the venue for the primary.
Some journalists who had already proceeded to the venue were denied access as they did not have the accreditation tags.
At the time of filing this report, it was not clear why the Media and Publicity were yet to release the accreditation tags.
According to the programme of events, the exercise was supposed to kick off at 10 am with the arrival of National Delegates.
Media houses which nominated their staff to cover the event had written letters two weeks ago on the directive of the party.
Reporters waiting outside APC National Secretariat for accreditation 11:31 am
Accreditation of delegates begins at ICC 10:33 am
Accreditation of delegates begins at ICC
Accreditation of delegates for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) special convention and presidential primary is ongoing at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Delegates were driven into the accreditation centre in designated buses.
APC primary: Kwara delegates warming up for Tinubu 10:21 am
There is excitement among Kwara State delegates about the proposal by the governors that five should contest the primary.
The delegates, who are rooting for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, reiterated their commitment to the aspiration of the former Lagos State governor.
A delegate said:”May Allah bless our indefatigable governor, AbdulRasaq, who is not a noise maker. Under his leadership and direction, we are supporting our highly esteemed National Leader, who has been preaching peace and reconciliation in Kwara. He loves us. We are going to Eagle Square to pay him back with love. May Allah bless our governor. May Allah bless Asiwaju.”
APC Govs propose Tinubu, four others for primary 09:36 am
All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors have proposed five presidential aspirants to participate at today’s primary.
Plateau Governor Simon Lilongwe, who confirmed the proposal to reporters in Abuja, said it was done based on the reality on ground and without bias and sentiments.
The five, who are from the South, are: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chibuike Amaechi, Prof Yemi Osinbajo , Dave Umahi and Kayode Fayemi.
That they are from the South attested the commitment of the Governors to zoning to the region.
Lalong said their names were listed in alphabetical order.
The Governor explained that President Muhammadu Buhari had asked the Progressives Governors’ Forum to reduce the number of aspirants and submit their names to the party.
He also said the five aspirants were also advised to discuss among themselves and agree on one candidate.
Remarkably, three of them are from Southwest, one from South south and one from the Southeast.
However, the proposal is not a decision but a suggestion.
Also, it is expected that other aspirants should embrace it to prevent any controversy arising over exclusion, which may lead to post-primary litigation.
Lalong said the long list of aspirants conveyed a crowded race that may unleash tension.
He dismissed insinuations about any consensus aspirant from the North, insisting that the Governors were committed to zoning.
NWC backs APC Northern Govs on power shift 7:10 pm
The National Working Committee(NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) has backed Northern Governors of the party on power shift to the South.
Northern Governors on Monday insisted on power shift after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
This was despite the announcement of Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the preferred aspirant of the President Muhammadu Buhari by APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
Adamu made the announcement at the NWC meeting of the party in Abuja.
But APC Organisjng Secretary, Suleiman M Argungu, has said the choice of Lawan is simply Adamu’s opinion.
He said the NWC supports the position of Northern APG Govs on power shift .
He said the choice of Senate President Ahmed Lawan as consensus aspirant is not the position of the NWC but just an opinion of the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu.
“It is just an information given by the chairman. The NWC is with the Northern Govs on power shift to the South,” Argungun said.
APC Organising Secretary, Suleiman M Argungu, has stated the National Working Committee(NWC) supports the position of Northern APG Govs on power shift to the south.
He said the choice of Senate President Ahmed Lawan as consensus aspirant is not the position of the NWC but just an opinion of the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu.
They spoke after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Simon Lalong, who led others to the meeting, also disclosed Buhari has not anointed anyone yet as his consensus candidate.
Thirteen out of the 14 APC Governors from the north at the meeting told State House Correspondents they were resolute on their decision.
Their position contradicts the announcement of Senate President Ahmad Lawan as consensus candidate of the party by the National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
Lalong told correspondents that President Buhari has requested the Governors to have a meeting with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to resolve the issue of consensus candidate through democratic means.
Lalong, who was flanked by 12 other Governors, said they told the President of their decision to ensure that power returns to the South for the sake of equity and unity of the country.
He said the Progressive Governors’ Forum would meet again at 5pm after consultation with the party’s NWC.
He said the Governors would be feeding the President back subsequently.
“Out of that discussions, Mr. President, as a believer in democratic process, believes that any candidate must emerge through a transparent process and the emphasis that Mr. President told us that for this election, for now, he has no anointed candidate and therefore directed that the Progressive Governors Forum meet with the National Working Committee of the party to agree and proffer further solutions and recommendations for his own succession.
“I am sure this will may be the last of consultations. So we are directed that after this, our chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum has also summoned a meeting for five o’clock today and after that meeting, will make again further suggestions to Mr. President,” Lalong said.
What Electoral Act 2022 says on consensus candidate 5:32 pm
All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu on Monday told National Working Committee (NWC) members that Senate President Ahmad Lawan will be the consensus candidate of the party.
According to him, the announcement was based on his consultation with President Muhammadu Buhari. The announcement was received with stiff resistance by NWC members who insisted the primary slated for June 6-8 must hold with all aspirants allowed to contest.
On January 25, the National Assembly passed a harmonised re-amended electoral act with consensus as one of three options for primary elections. The other options are direct and indirect primaries.
But the National Assembly set strict guidelines for consensus to scale through. Political parties, according to the amendment, would not adopt consensus candidates unless other aspirants for the elective position tender written documents indicating their consent to withdraw from the primary. The aspirants would also state their endorsements of the consensus candidates.
Clause 84(9)(a) of the re-amended electoral bill states: “A political party that adopts a consensus candidate shall secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the position, indicating their voluntary withdrawal from the race and their endorsement of the consensus candidate.”
If the written consent was not obtained, the party would jettison the consensus arrangement and proceed with either direct or indirect primary election, according to Clause 84(9)(b), which states: “Where a political party is unable to secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the purpose of a consensus candidate, it shall revert to the choice of direct or indirect primaries for the nomination of candidates for the aforesaid elective positions.”
Clause 84(9)(c) states that even when aspirants tender written documents to pave the way for emergence of consensus candidates, a special convention or nomination congress will be held to ratify the choice of consensus candidates at the national, state, senatorial, federal and state constituencies, as the case may be.
The bill further states that where there is only one aspirant or a consensus candidate in a political party for an elective position, a special convention will be convened at a designated venue for the confirmation of the aspirant after which his name will be forwarded to INEC as the candidate.
Crisis has hit the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the announcement of Senate President Ahmed Lawan as consensus presidential aspirant by the national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
Adamu made the announcement at the meeting of National Working Committee (NWC) on Monday in Abuja.
Other aspirants including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Dr. Kayode Fayemi and David Umahi, among others will however be allowed to contest the primary at the convention holding tomorrow at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
The NWC members insisted other aspirants must be given a level playing ground to compete.
Adamu’s adoption of Lawan as 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.
Adamu told the National Working Committee that he arrived at the choice of Lawan after consultation with President Buhari.
Buhari, Northern Govs in closed-door meeting 3:30 pm
President Muhammadu Buhari is in a meeting with some Governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the north at the Presidential Villa Abuja.
The meeting is coming just hours ahead of the APC’s presidential convention, which is scheduled to take off today at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
Although there was no official note to the reason for the meeting with the Governors, it was suggested it may not be unconnected with preparations towards assuring a successful convention.
It is the fourth meeting between the President and party stakeholders in relation to the primary.
Aside from his meeting with APC Governors last Tuesday, Buhari has met with the party’s presidential aspirants where he urged them to consult and pick a formidable candidate from among themselves.
On Sunday night, the President also hosted members of the National Advisory Council to a
Those in attendance are Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi); chairman of Northern Governors Forum Simon 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 Mai Mala Buni (Yobe).
APC presidential primary locks down Abuja 2:58 pm
The central area of Abuja is practically on a lock down with serious traffic congestion along all major roads leading to Eagle Square, venue of the All Progressives Congress (APC) convention.
There was traffic snarl around Area 10, Wuse 2 and other areas as road users tried to avoid the Ahmadu Bello way and Shehu Shagari way leading to the Eagle Square.
Although the convention has not commenced as at 3.00pm, the city is experiencing huge traffic with hotels in most parts of Abuja fully booked.
APC Primaries: Tinubu tipped to win
Frontline presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is projected to be ahead in the party’s presidential primaries slated for today and tomorrow in Abuja.
A number of factors make Tinubu the candidate to beat. The factors are: nationwide recognition, reach, structure, support, endorsements, mass appeal, track record as governor of Lagos State, rich experience in both the private and public sectors.
Tinubu, along with President Buhari, is a co-founder of the APC.
He has mentored politicians across the country, many of who became governors, senators, House of Representatives members, or were elected or appointed through his support.
Tinubu, as APC National Leader, has profound influence on the key structures of the party in many states.
He also has the backing of more governors than his rivals.
With governors having tremendous influence on the delegates – three per local government – Tinubu can feel confident about emerging his party’s torch-bearer and a potential face-off with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President candidate Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election.
The APC northern governors, in a communiqué at the end of their Abuja meeting on Saturday, advised President Muhammadu Buhari to restrict his search within the party for a successor to the southern states.
They said power shift to the South would be in the interest of building a stronger, more united and more progressive country.
Based on the decision, Jigawa State Governor Mohammed Badaru withdrew from the race.
In the South, the Southwest is the bastion of the APC.
Tinubu is the clear favourite in the geo-political zone. He is also being backed strongly by most of the states in the North.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo may get his votes from Ogun which is his home state and Nasarawa where he is believed to be backed by the state governor.
Former Minister of Transportation Mr. Chibuike Rotmi Amaechi may get his votes from his home state, Rivers, and Plateau where he is being backed by the state governor.
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi may get his votes from Ekiti, Jigawa where the governor is his friend. He may also get some votes from Kebbi because of his closeness to the state governor.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan is being backed by his state, Yobe and states in the Southeast.
Of all the contenders, Tinubu best fits President Muhammadu Buhari’s description of the candidate of his choice.
The President recommended a party man who must be formidable, who appeals to the electorate across the board.
Projection as at today.
Tinubu is projected to win Kano, Lagos, Oyo, Borno, Sokoto, Bauchi, Osun, Benue, Ondo, Edo, Katsina, Gombe, Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara and Adamawa states.
Osinbajo: Ogun and Nasarawa.
Yahaya Bello: Kogi
Amaechi: Rivers and Plateau
Lawan: Yobe, Kebbi (strong), Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra and Enugu.
Fayemi: Ekiti, Jigawa and Kebbi (partially)
Akpabio: Akwa Ibom
Ayade: Cross River
Undecided states: Delta and Bayelsa.
What you need to know about APC presidential primary
The decisive presidential primary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will begin on Monday at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
Delegates across States have started arriving in Abuja to partake in the process.
From the delegates tally released by APC, while Southwest, which has seven aspirants boasts of 411 delegates, South/South has 359 delegates.
There are 894 (336 plus 558) delegates from Northeast and Northwest respectively.
Twenty-three (23) aspirants were screened by the John Odigie-Oyegun-led screening committee. They are expected to jostle for votes.
Those screened were APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President Ahmad Lawan; Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi; former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Godswill Akpabio; Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello and former Speaker House of Representatives Oladimeji Bankole.
Others are: President/ Founder of Belemaoil and Belema Aid Foundation Tein Jack-Rich; Former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Ogbonnaya Onu; Cross River Governor Ben Ayade; Former Minsiter of Information Ikeobasi Mokelu; Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi; Former Minister of State for Education Emeka Nwajiuba and Ebonyi Governor David Umahi.
Also screened were: Former Zamfara Governor Ahmed Yerima; Former Ogun Governor Ibikunle Amosun; only female aspirant. Uju Kennedy; former CPC Vice Presidential candidate Pastor Tunde Bakare; Nicholas Felix; former Senate President Ken Nnamani; Deputy Senate Leader Ajayi Borroffice and Jigawa Governor Mohammed Abubakar-Badaru.
President Muhammadu Buhari had expressed confidence in the chances of APC in the 2023 general elections.
Buhari, at a dinner meeting, asked Governors under the APC to accord him the privilege of choosing his successor among the party’s long list of presidential aspirants.
He spoke of the need to provide effective and strong leadership for the party to stay in power at all levels beyond his administration.
Nigerians are watching with keen interest what would be the outcome of the primary
