Tinubu, govs back Buhari for APC ticket

Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu and majority of the party’s governors have endorsed the candidacy of former Head of State Muhammadu Buhari as the party’s delegates vote for their presidential candidate today. But former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has fought back by reaching out directly to the delegates.Daily Trust learnt that […]

Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu and majority of the party’s governors have endorsed the candidacy of former Head of State Muhammadu Buhari as the party’s delegates vote for their presidential candidate today.
But former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has fought back by reaching out directly to the delegates.
Daily Trust learnt that the decision by Tinubu and the governors to support Buhari was reached at a meeting held in Lagos, few hours before the commencement of the party’s convention yesterday.
The governors who have reportedly endorsed Buhari’s candidature at the meeting include Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto).
But there were uncertainties over the commitment of some governors as an earlier meeting held for the endorsement ended without agreement.
Two APC governors, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo), are also gunning for the presidential ticket and an earlier attempt to persuade them to step down for Buhari failed.
Atiku, on his part, decided to reach out directly to the delegates, focusing more on those from the 22 non-APC states.
 It was understood that Atiku’s camp particularly zeroed in on delegates from 16 states they consider winnable: Adamawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Benue, Plateau, Bauchi, Jigawa, Taraba, Yobe, Delta, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Ekiti and Ondo as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Daily Trust correspondents gathered that the former Vice President’s camp also dealt directly with the delegates, even those from states controlled by pro-Buhari governors.
Atiku was said to have received the support of many governorship and senatorial candidates of the party after promising to bankroll their general election campaigns.
However, former governors Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State, Ahmed Sani of Zamfara and Danjuma Goje of Gombe are reported to be backing Buhari while former Kogi State governor Abubakar Audu has openly supported Kwankwaso.
Some of the delegates from Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Imo, Osun, Plateau and Nasarawa states who spoke to Daily Trust at the convention ground said they have been mandated by the leadership of the party in their states to cast their votes for Buhari.
By early morning today the race remains very close with General Buhari apparently on the lead, followed closely by Atiku and then Kwankwaso. Governor Okorocha and Leadership publisher Sam Nda-Isaiah were reported to be behind the top three.
The Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee and former governor of Ekiti State Dr Kayode Fayemi has said all the five aspirants have pledged to abide by the outcome of the election and support the eventual winner.
He said they had demonstrated a high degree of loyalty and commitment to the cause of a free and fair primary election.   
In his remarks at the event at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, ex-governor of Ekiti State praised the aspirants for their unity of purpose, adding that their act will give a big challenge against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  
He said once the presidential flag bearer emerges today, the party will fulfil all other formalities and commence on issue-based campaign across the country.
Dr Fayemi said all the APC presidential aspirants are eminently qualified to bring the change that Nigerians desire.
“They all have what it takes to excel as President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” he said.
Prior to the commencement of the convention General Buhari had sent a letter to the delegates pleading for their votes.
He said he is seeking to be the next president because he has something to offer Nigeria at this time of multiple national crises.
He said insecurity, corruption and near economic collapse is having a negative effect on the country and is threatening to bring the country to its knees.
Before the voting began all the aspirants were given opportunity to address the delegates. There were also good messages by APC leaders including the national chairman Chief John Oyegun, Ogbonnaya Onu, Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and many others.
Chief Oyegun formally recognised the presence of the former national chairman of the PDP Barnabas Gemade, who recently defected to the APC and even got its ticket for Senate in Benue State.
He said the APC has a lot of programmes for the development of Nigeria and asked the people to give it a chance in the 2015 general elections.