…Recommends consensus for election of party officials
By Gabriel Atumeyi
365Daily – The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it is in the process of selecting a consensus and agreeable presidential candidate for 2023 general election.
Sen. John Akpanudoehede, National Secretary, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), stated this in a statement issued on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, in Abuja.
The statement was in reaction to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s recent allegation that President Muhammadu Buhari had a self-succession plan.
The APC scribe, however, stressed that the party would not allow individual ambitions to derail the Buhari administration ahead of the 2023 presidential poll.
Akpanudoedehe, while recalling an alleged third term agenda of the PDP while it was in power, pointed that the APC would surprise it with the outcome of its planned congresses scheduled to commence on July 31.
He said that the APC was a disciplined party, noting that the PDP was just being haunted by its past.
In a related development, Akpanudoedehe said the party has recommended the consensus option for the election of party officials at all levels in a bid to reduce acrimony.
“For us, we have to take into consideration the need to accommodate everyone because the APC is a party for all Nigerians.
“We are encouraging states to adopt the consensus arrangement because it saves costs and reduces acrimony. That is why when you look at Article 20 of our constitution which talks about elections, the first thing there is for members to try reaching a consensus. When that fails, then you go to cast ballots.
“We are making sure we do not leave any room for the opposition, especially the Peoples Democractic Party to sponsor people to cause confusion in our midst,” he explained.
The Article 20 of the APC Constitution on Election and appointments, the party said, states as follows:
“i. Unless otherwise provided for:
a. All Party posts prescribed or implied by this Constitution shall be filled by democratically conducted elections at the respective National Convention or Congress subject, where possible, to consensus, Provided that where a Candidate has emerged by consensus for an elective position, a vote of “yes” or “no” by ballot or voice shall be called, to ensure that it was not an imposition which could breed discontent and crisis.”