2023: APC gives fresh updates on zoning, presidential primary
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) said there is no truth in the assertion it had zoned its presidential ticket to any part of the country as it adjusted its time table for the forthcoming primaries.
Telescpe.ng gathered that the decision was taken on Wednesday, May 18, at a meeting of the Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee (NWC), of the party.
The APC hierarchy had side-stepped clamour to zone its presidential ticket to the south on the ground that the current leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, is from the north and the national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, is also from the north.
It was learnt that there is a counter-clamour to throw the ticket open to all the six geo-political zones of the country, which seems to be gaining the upper hand.
Among the 23 presidential aspirants still left in the race for the APC ticket, 19 are from the south, while four are from the north.
Among the southern aspirants, eight are from the southeast that has the least number of delegates; seven are from the southwest; and the south-south has four.
In the north, North-West has two, while North-East and North-Central has one each.
The APC aspirants from southwest are Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Senator Ajayi Borrofice, Dimeji Bankole, Tunde Bakare, Kayode Fayemi and Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
Those from the South-East are Chief Emeka Nwajiuba, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Engr Dave Umahi, Senator Ken Nnamani, Mr. Nicholas nwagbo, Mr. Ikeobasi Mokelu and Mrs. Uju Ohanenye.
The contenders from the South-South are Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Ben Ayade, and Mr. Tein Jack-Rich.
The aspirants from the North are Alhaji Yahaya Bello (North-Central), Senate President Ahmad Lawan (North-East), Mohammed Badaru (North-West) and Ahmed Yerima (North-West).
Asked if the APC has zoned the presidential ticket, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr, Felix Morka, said: “There is no such decision made by the National Working Committee.”
On the adjusted timetable, Morka said the earlier three-day presidential convention will now hold for two days from Sunday May 29 to Monday, May 30.
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