Disquiet In APC Over Plot To Throw Open Presidential Ticket

Forum 2 years ago

Disquiet In APC Over Plot To Throw Open Presidential Ticket

There is uneasy calm in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over an alleged plot to throw open the presidential ticket.

Some presidential aspirants are believed to be pushing for an all-comers contest.

This is believed to be part of the new scheming to shortchange the Southwest.

It was gathered that part of the anti-Southwest agenda is the plot to drag ex-President Goodluck Jonathan into the race with two Northwest governors as arrowheads.

But some influential Northerners have insisted on zoning the presidency to the Southwest in appreciation of the backing of the zone for power shift to the North in 2015.

The same bigwigs, it was learnt, have been discouraging potential aspirants from the North.

Only Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello from the North has indicated intention to run.

It was gathered that some of those pushing for an open race are hiding under the ambiguity in the APC constitution over power rotation between the North and the South.

They are claiming that the party’s zoning formula applies only to the election of the National Working Committee (NWC) – the organ that runs the party.

It was also gathered that to achieve the open ticket agenda, these forces have opted for a crowded space.

The increasing number of presidential aspirants from the Southsouth and the Southeast was said to be part of the plot to pressurise the party’s leadership to leave APC presidential ticket open.

More presidential aspirants are expected in the race in the next few days.

However, it was gathered that some Northern APC governors have remained adamant that Southwest should produce the standard-bearer of the party.

According to sources, the latest twist on open agenda is the delay in releasing the party’s zoning formula.

There is also a hide and seek game between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Because of this, the sources said the APC may adopt the same zoning formula if PDP throws its ticket open.