The All Progressives Congress (APC) has kicked off the screening of its presidential aspirants to decide who will participate in the primary election scheduled for December 10.
Former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and the publisher of the Leadership Newspapers, Mr. Sam Nda Isaiah, Tuesday appeared before the Chief Ogbonnaya Onu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) screening committee at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
Addressing newsmen shortly before the exercise commenced, the Chairman of the panel and former Abia State Governor, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said all the five aspirants would be screened in line with the provisions of the country’s constitution, that of the party and the electoral law.
Onu said the party would be introducing a unique innovation into its presidential primaries, adding that as part of the crisis-management initiative, every aspirant would be made to sign an undertaking to abide by the rules and regulations.
“So, in screening our aspirants, we will attach a lot of importance to the manifesto of the party. We will sensitise the aspirants on the urgent need of the area security, the economy, job creation, foreign policy and corruption,” he said.
Onu further said the aspirants would also be made to commit themselves to implementing the manifesto of the party if any of them secures the ticket and eventually wins the presidency.
Also as part of the party’s plan to retain the loyalty and cooperation of the aspirants and their supporters after the primary, the panel chairman said every aspirant would enlist to support whoever emerges the candidate of the party.
“We intend to ensure that every aspirant undertakes to collapse his structures towards supporting the candidate of the party. We as a party we are not happy with how things have been going on in the last 16 years, our party wants a change and it expects any candidate of the party that will fly its flag and eventually win election to make sure that he implements all aspects of our manifesto meant to bring about the desired change.”
Nda Isaiah, who was the first to be screened, reiterated his resolve to stamp out corruption in the polity if elected in 2015. Lamenting the appalling situation of power supply in the polity, he said, “Under my government, we are going to be very hash on corruption. For me, the chief fighter of corruption is not the EFCC or ICPC, but the president himself. If the President’s body language did not favour corruption, I can guarantee you that nobody will engage in corruption or any other forms of malpractices.”
Kwankwaso, who took his turn to be screened, said he is looking forward to be issued a certificate of clearance. Kwankwaso who said he has the reach in both the APC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to ensure victory for the APC at the poll, said the choice of Abuja would save delegates from the far North the rigours of not only getting accommodation, but also travelling long distances to Lagos for the APC primaries.
Former vice president, Atiku described the screening session as a ‘hot seat’ as he was made to take the panellists through the journey of how he intends to take Nigeria out of the woods if elected in the 2015 poll.
Atiku, who disclosed that he remains the most prepared among the presidential aspirants of the party, said that he had almost traversed the 36 states of the federation, including FCT canvassing for delegates’ votes. He also said he would abide by the decision of members of the convention committee to hold the party’s primary in Lagos.
Buhari, who spoke to journalists shortly after facing the screening panel, said his morale was high after his visits to some parts of the country.
On the choice of venue for the primary which seems to have been generating controversy, the aspirant said the committee responsible for the convention should consult with the National Working Committee (NWC) and tell the aspirants where to go.
Other members of the screening committee were Ambassador Babagana Jida, Senator Bukola Saraki, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, Tunji Abayomi, Prof. Dennis Abgonlahor, Matamaki Tom Maiyashi and Ambassador Fatima Balla.
While they await the D-day of the contest, four of the party’s presidential aspirants, Buhari, Atiku, Kwankwaso and Okorocha, yesterday said they were individually confident of picking the party’s ticket.
Kwankwaso said the aspirants had reached an agreement not abandon whoever emerges the candidate of the party at the primary. He said there is no doubt that any of the APC presidential aspirants can defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in any transparent election.
Okoroacha said while he is committed to adhering to the party’s call for unity and solidarity, such an accord would only be at the instance of a free and fair contest.
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