By Cross Udo, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has told leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, that the party cannot afford to do anything that will jeopardize the chances of the party in the 2023 general elections.

Buhari, who stated this when he hosted the APC National Assembly leadership at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, said that the party needed to adhere to the zoning template in its March 26 national convention

The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, urged leaders and members of the APC to channel their energies into improving the fortunes of the party in the forthcoming elections and avoid squabbling that easily distracts and create disharmony.

He reminded members of the proximity of the election dates set by INEC, admonishing that positions should be harmonised with a bigger picture of winning elections and providing good governance.

The statement quoted him as saying, “As you all know, the national convention of our party, which we have committed to, is holding on the 26th March 2022. And we cannot afford to do anything that will jeopardize the chances of the party in the 2023 General Elections.

“The limited time frame of the INEC timetable does not permit us any room for delay or further squabbling. We must therefore in the light of this reality consistently keep our eyes on the ball and refuse any distraction.

“A critical segment of our national democratic process is the National Assembly. Being representatives of our people from all over the country, the National Assembly especially the 9th Assembly has exhibited a commitment to a peaceful democratic process in its conduct and utmost maturity in its relationship with other arms of government. I commend you, the leadership for this success.

“Distinguished Senators and Honorable Members, we must conduct the upcoming convention in a manner that not only fortifies the unity of our party but also improves the prospects of our electoral fortunes in the 2023 general elections. You have an important role to play in ensuring that this happens.”

Buhari told the lawmakers that a zoning template was produced and adopted by the party after wide consultations to ensure that the leadership was reflective of the diversity in unity while representing various dynamic interests.

“We must adhere to that template,” he noted.

The President added, “The time available to us is limited and I, therefore, enjoin you to collaborate with the various stakeholders within and outside your respective states and zones to agree to work together and harmoniously in electing into the allotted positions appropriately, as stipulated in the provided template.

“This will not only produce a smooth process and limit friction but will enhance the image of the party positively and strengthen our overall position of dominance in the political space.”

Buhari said he met with the governors and the party national chairmanship aspirants on Wednesday to reiterate the need to go into the convention with a united front.

“It is the same reason why I invited you today,” he said, adding, “We should all do our part to ensure the success of this convention. This will fortify us for the campaigns ahead of us.”

The APC lawmakers were led to the meeting by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

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Meanwhile, Lawan has expressed optimism that the APC could have a successful national convention and go into next year’s general election to be re-elected by Nigerians.

He stressed that even though challenges remain in the country, the ruling party has done well.

Lawan said this when he addressed State House correspondents after a meeting with Buhari over Saturday’s national convention to elect members of its National Working Committee (NWC).

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He said: “I want to add here, finally, to say that we are committed to ensuring that this political party does not only have a successful convention but very successful, peaceful, and safe electioneering campaigns during 2022/2023 general campaigns and the general elections.

“By the grace of God, we’ll see Nigerians voting once again, for APC, because we have so far done so much in the areas that matter for the people of this country. But that is not to say that we are not facing some challenges. We are, but we are squaring up to ensure that we deal with those challenges.”

Lawan stressed the importance of the APC convention, expressing the hope that the party could reach a consensus and produce a unity list that would lead to affirmation during the exercise.

“This convention, by way of emphasis is a very important convention for us, in APC, and by the grace of God, through our processes and procedures, at different levels of the party, the convention would be a very successful one, very peaceful one.

“We hope that we would have achieved so much consensus in selecting and electing the officers for this party so that when we go into the convention, most of the officers should be for affirmation or confirmation.”

Explaining the need for consensus, he said the various zones are working actively to agree on their candidates before Saturday, adding: “The essence of this engagements is for the party to achieve consensus, and the consensus is a process.

“It doesn’t just happen like that. So, I believe that before we go into the convention square on Saturday, by the grace of God, we would have a lot of consensuses reached and maybe the sort of document that we call or refer to as unity list, that is bringing all the agreed positions where consensus have been achieved in the various sections or geopolitical zones of the country.

“Only yesterday we had a meeting of the Northeast, and we have achieved consensus, and other zones are either about to conclude or will conclude before the end of tomorrow, Friday. But by Saturday, I think the answers will all be there for everybody to see.”

Lawan disclosed that during the meeting with the President, Buhari emphasised the need for the ruling party to remain focused to maintain the present trajectory of development.

The Senate President also said that the National Assembly has remained stable under the APC because the ruling party had enjoyed the cooperation of opposition members.

He further said: “Mr. President, emphasized the need for us, in the APC to be united, always act as a family, and ensure that we remain focused. We have the leadership of Nigeria today at the national level. And of course, we have many states, about 22 states, under the leadership of the APC governors.

“We have 22 states and then control the Federal Government that requires that APC as a political party remains very focus, energetic, and purposeful, as it has always been, and ensure that we maintain the trajectory of development for our country.

“Because that is trust Nigerians gave us in 2015 and renewed that, in 2019. Mr. President also emphasized the need for us to ensure that we have a successful convention on the 26th of this month March.”
“It is very important to also emphasize here, that the 9th National Assembly has been very stable, has been a very productive National Assembly. And we have remained very united in the two chambers, as APC senators and members of the House of Representatives.

“And we have remained in very good partnership with our other political friends who are in different political parties. We have the PDP, and of course, APGA in the Senate, and I believe that they might have even more minority parties in the House of Representatives.

“But our colleagues, in the PDP, for example, have worked with us to ensure that the national interest is always supreme in our consideration.

Also speaking, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, affirmed that the essence of the meeting with President Buhari was to have a common front going into the national convention of the APC.

He stated: “Well, thank you very much. I have very little to add to what the Senate president has said. Except that this meeting was a productive one. As many of you are aware the President in the last couple of days has been having meetings with stakeholders towards the convention that is coming up on Saturday.

“And the whole idea is to encourage all stakeholders to unite, have a common front, and have a peaceful rancour free and successful convention. That’s what that meeting was about the long and short of it, and to make sure everybody’s on the same page, in terms of being united in terms of candidates.

“And we all know that in conventions such as this, where you have almost 5000, delegates, and many more. You have to be well organized. You have to be freed up to be fair to everybody. And that’s what he charged obviously as any leader would.”