Ahead the All Progressives Congress, APC National Convention slated for June 7, the party has announced the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan as the consensus presidential candidate. Lawan is one of the late entrants into the race.
According to the Nation newspaper, Adamu made the announcement at the meeting of National Working Committee, NWC on Monday in Abuja. The APC said the party came to the decision after consultation with President Muhammadu Buhari. But the president said last Saturday that he will not foist any candidate on the party.
It is,however, unclear whether other aspirants which include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Emeka Nwajuba, Rotimi Amaechi, Governors Kayode Fayemi, Dave Umahi, amongst others had accepted the decision.
For instance, Tinubu had recently said he was not prepared to step down for any aspirant. Also, Osinbajo said last week he had not stepped down for the Senate President contrary to speculations.
President Buhari had met the APC governors on Saturday where he appealed to them to chose a consensus candidate ahead the primaries coming up tomorrow. The president had earlier told the governors to allow him chose his successor.
It remains sketchy whether Lawan will be acceptable to a cross section of APC leaders for the party in next year’s election. The decision to chose Lawan, many watchers of the party said, will definitely shake the party to its very foundation as it plans to consolidate power next year.