President Muhammadu Buhari has said the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) must be someone who would Nigerians a sense of victory and confidence before the 2023 general election.

Buhari said the consultation process would continue to ensure that all the APC presidential aspirants and stakeholders would be brought on board right through to the forthcoming convention of the party.

He stressed that the convention would also ensure that any anxiety occasioned by different factors are effectively brought under control “and that our party emerges stronger”.

The President said these during a meeting with the Governors of the All Progressives Congress and the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.

Buhari, however, urged the APC governors to ensure that the forthcoming convention to pick a presidential candidate reflects all the values and virtues of the party.

“The processes for the 2023 general election have commenced in earnest and I note that the most successful political parties globally have always relied on their internal cohesion and a strong leadership brand to achieve bigger electoral fortunes. Our party, the APC, shall not be any different, more so as we are still implementing the blueprint for a more prosperous nation.

“As I begin the final year of my second term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and leader of the party, I recognize the compelling need for me to provide stronger leadership to the party under this transition process and to ensure that it happens in an orderly manner.

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“Such leadership is required so that the party remains strong and united. It is also needed to improve our electoral fortunes by ensuring that it retains power at the center, hold the great majority in various legislative chambers and also gain additional number of states.

“In a few days, the party will be holding its Convention during which primaries would take place to pick the presidential flag bearer for the 2023 general election. This is a very significant process and its outcome should prove to the world, the positive quality of the APC regarding democratic principles, culture as well as leadership,” Buhari was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

The President further appealed to all the governors “to allow our interests to converge, our focus to remain on the changing dynamics of our environment, the expectations of our citizens and the global community.”

“Our objective must be the victory of our party and our choice of candidate must be someone who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the elections,” Buhari said.

Speaking on behalf of governors, the governor of Kebbi State and Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, Atiku Bagudu, said the party must build on the successes of its recent elective convention, and the primaries conducted so far, “and come up with a candidate who will walk in the footsteps of patriotism and love for the country, which Mr President has shown.”

“We will support Mr President to have a very successful convention,” Bagudu pledged.

The Star