Allow delegates to decide – Buhari refuses to confirm Lawan as APC consensus candidate

President Muhammadu Buhari has cleared the air following news of the choice of Ahmad Lawan, senate president, as the consensus candidate of the All Progresives Congress (APC).

On Monday, Buhari declared that he has no preferred candidate as the APC holds it national convention to pick its flag bearer for the 2023 election.

The president cleared the air following reports that the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdulahi Adamu, had announced president of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, as the consensus candidate of the ruling party.

According to a statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Buhari gave the clarification during a meeting with APC governors of northern states at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday, saying that he has “no preferred candidate,” and has “anointed no one.”

The statement expressed the president’s determination to ensure that “there shall be no imposition of any candidate on the party.”

According the statement, while speaking with the governors, President Buhari said the party is important and its members must be respected, and made to feel they are important.

The Presidency informed that the president said he had a clear mind about what he was doing and asked the APC governors to feel the same way, telling the party to allow delegates to decide.

“You were elected as I was. Have a clear mind as I have. God gave us the chance; we have no reason to complain. We must be ready to take pain as we take the joy. Allow the delegates to decide. The Party must participate, nobody will appoint anybody,” it quoted Buhari as saying.