RACE TO 2015: APC Govs. insist on having party’s VP slot By Olawale Kadir on November 8, 2014 @ 8:32 am @todayngr According to reports, Governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, are said to be insisting on producing the party’s Vice Presidential candidate for the 2015 elections. The governors are said to have told the party’s leadership that one of them must be given the vice-presidential slot. The governors demand is however based on the premise that a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) or ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar might emerge as the party’s presidential candidate. Although two governors of the party, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano and Rochas Okoroha of Imo are seeking the party’s presidential ticket, however, Okorocha hasn’t formally declared his intention. Publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda- Isaiah is also among the APC’s presidential aspirants. Reports also suggest that the zoning of other elective offices will be determined based on the outcome of the party’s presidential primaries. However, when the three parties, ACN, ANPP and CPC were merging to form the APC, it agreed tentatively that the North would produce the party’s presidential candidate, while the South West would produce the Vice President, but due to the demands being made by the APC governors, this previous arrangements might be adjusted. The former agreement wouldn’t seem to be the option the APC will adopt as none of their governors in the South West is a Christian, and the party is said not to be ready to field a same faith ticket. The APC is said to be looking at picking its VP from the South East or South South. Going by this option, either Okorocha, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, will emerge. “We have not concluded discussions on the presidential ticket. “All I can tell you for now is that either Buhari or Atiku may get the ticket. The governors are also demanding that an incumbent governor from the South should be picked as the vice-presidential candidate. “We are looking towards the South-South and South-East to ensure that we field a Muslim- Christian ticket. We have assured Nigerians that we are not contemplating a Muslim-Muslim ticket and we will not disappoint them,” said a high level source in the party. Another source in the party said although no firm decision has been taken as regards who gets the VP slot, Lagos state governor, Tunde Fashola was also in the mix of possible choices. He said, “No firm decision has been taken with regard to the issue of who will become vice- president yet. “The governors are insisting that if one of them cannot be number one, they should at least be allowed to produce number two. “Initially, most of the governors insisted on the number one position but later agreed that if they are to concede, something must be given to them in return. If you remember, one of the aspirants, Kwankwaso, even gave indications that he would like to run with former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. “For Fashola, those making a case for him point to his record of achievements in the last seven and half years in office. “All of these things will depend on how the presidential candidate emerges. If we go ahead to do the primary without consensus, a lot will depend on the disposition of the party’s national chieftain, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. “If he is convinced that the party’s interest will be better served by promoting someone outside the South-West, then Oshiomole or Ameachi is likely to be favoured. “If, however, he believes that it would be better served with a VP from the South-West, then you can be sure he will settle for a core loyalist and Oshibajo may be favoured because of his loyalty and background as a Christian. “However, there is this school of thought that some powers that be would rather have Fashola out in the political wilderness for the next four years to neutralise him.” The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed however refused to confirm or deny these reports, saying the party is currently focused on its presidential primaries and would cross that bridge (VP slot) when it gets there. “Right now, we are busy preparing for our presidential primary. It is when we conclude that process that we can talk of other issues. Be patient,” he said.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 14:04:09 +0000
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