APC aspirants battle governors over consensus as 15 pick tickets in Kwara

Aspirants contesting governorship positions under the All Progressives Congress (APC) are reportedly rejecting the consensus arrangements approved by the party in several states. These aspirants are daring to contest against incumbent governors or those anointed to succeed outgoing ones. In Kwara State, not less than 15 aspirants have purchased forms under the All Progressives Congress […]

Aspirants contesting governorship positions under the All Progressives Congress (APC) are reportedly rejecting the consensus arrangements approved by the party in several states.
These aspirants are daring to contest against incumbent governors or those anointed to succeed outgoing ones.
In Kwara State, not less than 15 aspirants have purchased forms under the All Progressives Congress to contest for governorship, making the competition for the governorship fiercest.
Information received from the nomination form Collection/Submission secretariat also indicated that eight aspirants are jostling for the same position in Adamawa State, six each from Oyo and Yobe states, Bauchi and Nasarawa have five each and Abia and Taraba four aspirants each. Gombe and Lagos has three aspirants each while Borno and Ogun have two aspirants each.
Daily Trust reports that there has been stiff resistance to the consensus arrangement in many states.
In Kwara State, many aspirants were said to have ignored the moves by the state governor, Abdulrasaq Abdulraheem to anoint a specific aspirant to succeed him.
The situation is the same in Yobe State, where the former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, personally submitted his forms and told journalists at the venue that he would not step down for a predetermined candidate.
“I have not seen where any consensus has taken place. I have not participated in any consensus meeting, and I have not agreed to support anybody. I have the passion, the credibility, and the attitude needed to lead Yobe,” the aspirant said.
Another aspirant, Kashim Musa Tumsah, also insisted not to step down for any aspirant, saying, “The people desire change and they have asked for something different. That is why we are contesting.’’
In Benue State, an aspirant, Mathias Byuan, has vowed not to step down for the incumbent governor, Rev. Father Hyacinth.
Alia faces a stiff challenge from aspirants who have rejected the consensus. Addressing journalists after submitting his forms, Mathias said, “The governor and I will test the ground. If he is popular, let him win. If I am popular, I will win. Mr. President has said people should go and test their popularity.”

Dr. Fatima Abdullahi, the only female gubernatorial aspirant in Nasarawa State, expressed her readiness for a direct primary battle recalling that since 1999, no woman has governed any state.

Mrs. Abdullahi said she is comfortable with the grassroots-led direct primary format.

Our correspondent further reports that as at 7pm on Monday, 81 have purchased the APC governorship tickets in 28 states.

Of the 17 first-term governors, 13 are likely to return unopposed.

Those believed to be having no challengers are Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta); Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi); Umo Bassey Eno (Akwa Ibom); Bassey Otu (Cross River); Peter Mbah (Enugu); Umar Namadi (Jigawa); Uba Sani (Kaduna); Abba Yusuf (Kano); Dikko Umaru Radda (Katsina); Nasir Idris (Kebbi); Umar Bago (Niger); Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto) and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).

Meanwhile, the party has extended its sales of form till the closing hours of today to enable more aspirants to pick their forms and return same.