The Tinubu Campaign Organization has advised the All Progressives Congress against imposing a consensus candidate.
It was in response to the news on Monday, June 6, that Senate President Ahmed Lawan would be the party’s consensus candidate.
The Tinubu support organization specified three prerequisites for selecting a consensus candidate. This is as stipulated in the Electoral Act in a statement signed on Monday, June 6; signed by its Legal Director, Babatunde Ogala, SAN.
According to Ogala, the media has been swamped with claims that the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman has unilaterally declared the claimed adoption of a certain aspirant as the APC’s consensus presidential candidate for the upcoming presidential election in 2023.
The National Chairman has yet to confirm or deny the alleged proclamation. It is vital to point out that such a pronouncement is legally impossible.
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This is because, under the Electoral Act of 2022, consensus, while permitted as one of the methods by which a political party may select a candidate, must take place in a certain manner, Ogala further clarified.
The statement further read:
Section 84(9) (10) and (11) of the Electoral Act 2022 are the relevant provisions and they state as follows:
(9) A political party that adopts a consensus candidate shall secure the written consent of all cleared aspirant for the position; indicating their voluntary withdrawal from the race. And their endorsement of the consensus candidate.
(10) Where a political party is unable to secure a 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 position.(11) A special convention or nomination congress shall be held; to ratify the choice of consensus candidates at designated centers at the National,
State, Senatorial, Federal and State Constituencies, as the case may be.Instructively, none of the above conditions have occurred in respect of producing the presidential candidate of the APC. Therefore, any declaration of a consensus candidate would be premature; and a violation of extant provisions of the law.
He further noted that the campaign team of Tinubu is confident that as a law-abiding entity, the APC will not be part of such.
The group further persuaded supporters to disregard this report; considering that the overwhelming majority of the APC Northern Governors who, after meeting with the President, re-affirmed their preference for a president from the Southern part of Nigeria.
He further said;
This patriotic decision is widely accepted by all Nigerians as a demonstration of deep understanding of the nuanced fault lines of our nation.
In the circumstance, a unilateral declaration by the National Chairman of a consensus presidential candidate for the party will not only violate the law; but set the party on collision course with its Governors who are critical stakeholders in the party.
