By Olusegun Olanrewaju, Seyi Odewale, Francis Ajuonuma (Lagos); David Lawani, Ben Adoga, and Cross Udo (Abuja)
After an event-filled and gruelling 24 hours beginning from Monday afternoon, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday held its Special National Convention to pick its presidential candidate for the 2023 election at Eagle Square in Abuja.
The much-publicised convention was almost marred by poor crowd control this morning as the exercise was halted for almost an hour in a bid to get things streamlined.
Things started getting out of control the moment the security situation was relaxed as soon as President Muhammadu Buhari left the venue of the convention.
This porous security situation gave room for all manner of people thronging the venue of the convention even hawkers were seen virtually everywhere moving around uncontrollably.
Some of the delegates could not write which gave room for non-delegates to assist them.
The chairman of the security committee, Gen. Abdulraham Dambazau (retd.) had to order the arrest of unaccredited agents within the voting arena before sanity returned to the venue and the voting exercise continued at 4.30am.
Despite the hitch in the proceedings, some of the delegates still expressed confidence in the exercise and showed resilience to stay through to the end.
As of the time of going to press at 5.15am today, the convention was still ongoing, but there were indications that the outcome might favour former Lagos State governor and national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu.
This is because, before the voting process, seven of the contesting aspirants had stepped down for the Jagaban Borgu, as Tinubu is popularly known.
Those who stepped down for Tinubu from the last 14 aspirants in the presidential race include former governor of Akwa Ibom State and ex-minister of the Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio.
Akpabio had harped on how Tinubu transformed Lagos State when he was the governor between 1999 and 2007 as the reason for backing him to carry on.
Others who stepped down include former Ogun State State and a serving senator, Ibikunle Amosu; the Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Kayode Fayemi; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; Jigawa State governor, Abubakar
Badaru, and Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, The only woman in the race, Uju Kenedy-Ohanenye, followed the footsteps of others, refusing to contest against the charismatic Lagos politician, Tinubu.
•Odds favour Tinubu to win as seven aspirants step down for ex-Lagos gov
Seven aspirants out of the 23 aspirants that vied for the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, at the party’s special congress and primaries to elect its standard-bearer at the Eagle Square in Abuja, stepped down for the party’s National Leader and former governor of Lagos, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
At the last count, nine out of the aspirants opted out with seven stepping down for Tinubu, Nnamami withdrawing and Dr Nicholas Felix, bowing out for Osinbajo.
The aspirants were given ample time to canvas their qualities to about 2,203 accredited delegates from the 774 local government areas of the country.
Each of them was best suited to fly the flag of the party and coast the APC to victory in the next year’s general election. But those originally expected as delegates totalled 2,322, while 2,203 were accredited, leaving out 119.
However, one of the aspirants, for unknown reasons, a former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, did not show up at the primary, even when his name was called to come forward to make some remarks like other aspirants.
The aspirants, who were called out in alphabetical order, going by their names, saw Tinubu coming out first to set the stage for their short speeches. He was ushered to the podium by the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, one of the masters of the ceremony for the event.
Announcing the time given to each aspirant, Dabiri-Erewa initially allotted two minutes to everyone, but Tinubu, who was the first to speak, exceeded the time, thus setting the stage for others to have ample time to speak.
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•Osinbajo, Lawan, Yahaya Bello, Bakare, Amaechi, others in close finishing
Each of the 14 presidential aspirants left in the race took their turns, alphabetically, to state their plans for office, beginning with Tinubu. Followed by Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Ahmed Yerima.
Tinubu attributed the plank of his presidential run to his success as Lagos State governor between 1999 and 2007. That, he stated, makes him the most qualified aspirant to succeed President Buhari in 2023.
An aspirant, Godswill Akpabio, gave his votes to Tinubu. Former Ogun State governor, Ibilunle Amosun, also backed Tinubu. Fayemi too, after a lengthy speech, gave his support to Tinubu.
He said he was stepping down for Tinubu as part of a sacrifice for the growth of Nigeria.
Ayade dwelt on the security challenges facing the country. Umahi promised to abide by the outcome of the decision of the national convention.
Lawan said having closely worked with President Buhari, “I know what to do” when he becomes the president. Dimeji Bankole harped on the power of the youth in transformation.
The Senate President added that he is eminently qualified to be the president, having spent 23 years in the National Assembly.
Bankole stepped down for Tinubu, whose campaign point is “I can build the country”. He said younger people can achieve success in critical areas of national endeavours.
Jigawa State governor, Abubakar Badaru, who chaired the 2018 national convention of the party, dwelt on the principle of consensus that power should shift to the south. He affirmed the duty of the north to be just, and fair. He, too, supported Tinubu.
Ajayi Boroffice also stepped down for Tinubu. He had promised to build on the legacies of President Buhari with a ‘four-point’ agenda.
He said, “It is time for us to bring science and technology to the forefront of our social and economic policies.”
Ogbonnaya Onu’s position is that wherever there is justice, there is peace. He did not step down for Tinubu because he feels that the South-East had been shortchanged in the power equation in the country.
The former Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister said, “The APC should have zoned the ticket to the South-East. Where is the justice?”
Tunde Bakare promised to fight to solve the intractable problems facing the country. He said it is time to produce a new generation, for change. “Vote for me, vote for your future,” he said, complaining about the inducement of delegates by wealthier aspirants.
The fiery Pentecostal Pastor added, “I am not here to step down for anyone. I am here to step up as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Rotimi Amaechi described himself as the most experienced aspirant in the presidential race among all others. He recollected that he served as governor twice, speaker of the state house of assembly, chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum twice, as well as director-general of the presidential campaign organisation twice, even though he is just 57 years old. He promised to improve infrastructure, just like he did in the railway sector.
The former Rivers State governor said, “I am the most experienced of all the candidates. If you vote for me, I will improve the economy”.
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Another contestant, Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade said, “I present myself as a great intellect, with a background in academics. I am an old head on a young shoulder.”
On his part, former Zamfara State governor, Ahmed Yerima said, “As president, I will introduce student loans so every child can have access to education.”
Tein Jack-Rich, a businessman traced the history of naira’s free fall, lamenting the parlous state of the nation’s economy today. He promised to provide ‘real jobs’ to people.
He said, “I am a development agent. This country needs me.”
Former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha’s words on the campaign platform were, “I am not running for president to accumulate riches, but to save the lives of ordinary Nigerians.”
Governor Yahaya Bello’s speech also dwelt on the insecurity situation in parts of the country, calling for a one-minute silence for those killed in different parts of the country.
He said he was aiming at becoming the nation’s president to provide quality leadership and improve a lot of the youths in the country. He also made case for the case of people living with special needs and women in the country.
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The only female contestant among them, Uju Ken-Ohanenye, promised to better a lot of the youths, and physically-challenged economic development, among others.
She pleaded with the delegates to use their votes well. She said, “I believe Nigeria needs a mother. But I am stepping down for Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.
For Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, it is a case of “I didn’t come this far to chicken out. I am here to win.”
One aspirant, the youngest in the race, a US-based Nigerian pastor of the Miracle Church International, Nicholas Felix, stepped down for vice president Yemi Osinbajo.
Nicholas, who said he attempted becoming president for the first time when he was 37 years old in 2019, argued that only Osinbajo would include youths in his administration “in their proper capacity”.
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The last to feature was sitting Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo. He spoke of the best opportunity to put in place the best legal and economic system in the country.
He said he felt honoured to share the platform with 22 other Nigerians at the convention.
According to him, it is possible to have a first-class health care system, education, mining, and exploit oil and gas in the southeast and some northern states.
“You can’t wish this country well and vote for someone you don’t believe in. Your vote carries the answer to the prayer prayed for the future of our country and the future of our children,” he said.
Former senate president, Ken Nnamani, had earlier dropped out of the race at the last moment.
Nigerians, he stated, are talented to do great things.
•Buhari urges winner to be magnanimous in victory
President Muhammadu Buhari had before the voting commenced urged the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary to be magnanimous in victory, particularly to fellow aspirants that conceded.
The president made the plea when he addressed the party delegates ahead of voting at the special convention held at Eagle Square in Abuja.
Buhari, while acknowledging the success achieved by the party in the various primaries so far, urged Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee (NWC) not to rest on the achievement, noting that the bigger task rather lies ahead in the coming general election.
He urged party members, who lost in the primaries, or conceded the primaries, to maintain the spirit of sportsmanship and stand by the party for the challenges ahead.
“I commend you for your various roles and contributions towards the successful conduct of the various APC primaries across the nation.
“I commend the party stakeholders, officials, and the Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee. I commend your efforts in organising party exercises and urge you not to rest on our achievements so far.
“Now, we have a big task ahead. The special convention was a presidential primary, I congratulate all the winners and our newly emerged party flag bearers, so far for the 2023 general elections, and urge you to be magnanimous in victory, particularly to those your fellow aspirants who conceded to you.
“I urge you at all times to abide by the party rules and follow party reconciliation processes.
The president added, “In every competing event, there are bound to be winners and runners up and as such, all the aspirants who lost or conceded at the primaries, I equally urge you to maintain the spirit of sportsmanship and stand by our great party for the next challenges ahead.
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“The critical task ahead of the Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee remains to continue to forge the unity of purpose among party members and to keep securing needed compromises in the interest of our great party,” Buhari said.
•Voting
As guests started trooping to the venue, fears that APC was heading for the crumble began fading fast. However, as voting started at about 1.30am, with delegates from Abia and Adamawa states first lining up to cast their votes, fate seemed to start smiling on Tinubu.
Things went on smoothly such that the embattled national chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, started boasting that “things are not falling apart in APC.”
He said, “Things are holding up. We are united and are speaking with one voice.
Adamu’s voice was amplified by the chairman of the election planning committee, and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma.
•The background
The event saw an estimated 2,203 delegates queuing to choose their preferred presidential candidate.
In the lead-up to the exercise, 28 presidential hopefuls had picked the nomination and expression of interest forms, but five of them later pulled out.
Twenty-three aspirants later appeared before the APC presidential screening committee led by the party’s former chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun.
Only 14 candidates survived the last stage of the voting yesterday at the special convention.
While a consensus candidate was said to have emerged on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari on his part said the delegates should be allowed to decide the party’s presidential flag bearer.
The northern APC governors also canvassed for the party’s candidate to come from the southern part of the country.
•Optimism
Ahead of the convention, delegates expressed their optimism over the emergence of a popular candidate, and that the exercise would produce the most popular and acceptable aspirant as the party’s 2023 presidential candidate.
Many of the delegates arrived at the Abuja Eagle Square, the venue of the exercise, after being accredited by the accreditation committee at the International Conference Centre ICC), amidst tight security.
The APC presidential primary election ran through the night as delegates and party officials arrived at the venue as from dusk yesterday.
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A member of the House of Representatives from Ebonyi State, Chinedu Ogah, pleaded that the APC should come up with a credible, free and fair primary that would be unmatched in the country.
Ogah, a member of the APC Special Convention Planning Committee, said the party should consider the South-East for the position of president in 2023.
“I expect a free and fair primary today, but if Nigerians consider the South-East worthy of the position, we will be most grateful,” he said.
Some aspirants took their time to pledge solidarity with the outcome of the voting exercise, particularly former Zamfara State governor, Ahmad Yerima.
Yerima said he was hopeful of getting the party’s ticket at the end of the event but in good faith.
“I hope that I will be the winner, but whatever happens, it is the will of Allah. Nobody else came to give power to individuals except Allah. So, whatever happens, it is His will and I will accept it,” he said.
Yerima also lauded the party leadership for the arrangements made for the hitch-free conduct of the convention.
The delegates cast their votes into ballot boxes strategically located for their preferred aspirants to emerge as the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, in case a consensus candidate was not picked.
Some delegates also sought a level playing ground for all aspirants.
A delegate from Lagos, Moyo Ogunlewe, said all was set for the primary, and that the delegates were ready to vote for the best man. He said, “The best man will win the election and for me, the best man is Asiwaju Tinubu and that is who I am here to support.
“I am also here to support my party APC and by God’s grace in 2023 APC will win the general election. The only person I know that can solve the economic challenges is Asiwaju and by God’s grace in his first six months in office, things will change for good.
“The delegates are here and it is going to be one man one vote; we are going to cast our votes and whoever wins the election is the best man,” he said.
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A delegate from Imo State, Kelechi Nwagwu, said that delegates were on the ground to vote on who would emerge as the flagbearer of the APC.
“We know by the grace of God that it is going to be Amaechi. He is going to take this country to the next level in developing our infrastructure, educational sector, and economy, and bring the best out of our economy.
“We do not want anybody to manipulate the delegates; we want the election to be free, fair, and credible.”
Also, a senior legislative aide in the Office of the Deputy Senate President, Iwuchukwu Ekezie, expressed the hope that the election would be peaceful.
“I am looking out for peace, in every political thing there may be wrangling but in the end, there will be peace. We are here to vote for the person who will represent us in the next election and a credible person will emerge.”
He expressed hope that the process would be free, fair, and credible.
As party officials and some of its presidential aspirants continued to arrive at the convention venue, one of the presidential aspirants, Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, was seen going around various state bleachers, waving at delegates to show appreciation for their support.
Buhari and other critical stakeholders of the party found their seats on the front lines, and the ‘party’ started.
•Security and scare
Security at the Abuja Eagle Square located in the Central Business District (CBD), where the convention took place remained tight as vehicular and human traffic was restricted.
All roads leading to the venue were cordoned off, with mobile policemen and other security details stationed at strategic positions.
Also, as part of security measures, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed Eagle Square, to prevent vote-buying, among other financial misdemeanours.
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Taking strategic positions, the officials declined to comment on their mission at the convention, just as they did at the PDP Special Convention in Abuja on May 28, though without making any arrests.
There were also flashes of security scare at spots. Pandemonium broke out at Eagle Square Abuja, as an aspirant, Bola Tinubu, was stampeded by his supporters.
•Manhandling of journalists
There were reports of journalists being manhandled at the convention venue, especially by security operatives.
But APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, apologised to the journalists said to have been so manhandled.
