President Muhammadu Buhari has charged major stakeholders in the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to intensify consultation and consensus building towards reducing the number of presidential aspirants.

He said that the reduction will prevent any post-convention acrimonies and also reduce noticeable anxiety among members on the possible outcome of the process.

The ruling party begins its National Convention on Monday, June 6, 2022 in Abuja.

The President said in order to further support the efforts of the party, he has admonished the aspirants to consult among themselves and with the party, so that the objective of the recommendation by the leadership would be actualized.

The President spoke on Sunday night at a meeting with members of the National Advisory Council (hitherto known as Board of Trustees) of the APC held at State House, Abuja.

The meeting was part of series of consultations ahead of the party’s National Convention.

The President recognized that members of the National Advisory Council have diverse interests, spheres of influence and expectations.

According to him, “You similarly possess the collective ability to ensure our victory at the 2023 polls by strengthening the stability and unity of the party.

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“My charge and appeal to all of you, therefore, is to reach out to your various spheres of influence to actively promote the spirit of consultation and consensus building so that a formidable candidate for the 2023 Presidential elections would emerge from the convention.  Our citizens do not expect less from us.”

President Buhari assured, as he did to the governors and the aspirants, that in the interest of the nation and the party, he would lead the transition processes and on-going consultations, “till we successfully choose our candidate for the 2023 presidential elections and record our third straight victory, thereafter, by God’s grace.”

President Buhari recalled that at the meeting with the governors and the aspirants, “I underscored the important roles consensus building and consultation have played in the survival of successful political parties around the world, adding that our party should not be an exception.

“Recognizing the foregoing, therefore, I also emphasized the need to strengthen our unity, stabilize our internal cohesion and system as well as present a formidable Presidential candidate who has the ability to build a unified nation and the capacity to deal with our challenges.

“The party machinery has also screened all our aspirants to the office of the President and found that they consist of eminent personalities, rich in experience, capacity, commitment to service and accomplishment in life. This gives us a lot of confidence but it also comes with its challenges.”

Buhari gave assurances that the ruling party was on its way towards winning a third straight victory since 2015.

He, however, stated that the stakeholders must work towards getting a widely acceptable presidential standard bearer.

Buhari added that the motive of the consultations was “to strengthen our unity and to focus on building upon our electoral fortunes.”

The Star