APC heavy weights bicker, as party picks candidate for 2019 presidency

Members of the National Caucus of the All Progressives Congress, APC, are set to clash with other factions within the party, following a latest decision on who would be the party’s flag bearer in the 2019 presidential election.

The National Caucus members declared on Tuesday, March 22, their support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 ambition, maintaining that there was no vacancy in Aso Villa. Vanguard has confirmed.

The National Caucus, comprising serving and former Governors of the party, the National Assembly leadership, and selected members of the national executive of the party, at the meeting said the endorsement of President Buhari for a second term would help to stabilize the polity in the face of what members described as the 16-year rot inherited from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Currently, the decision has sparked outrage among members of the party; especially for those planning to contest in the 2019 election.

Vanguard confirmed that the issue of Buhari’s second term in office was brought up, during the meeting as a way of resting restiveness among some party leaders, who have been divided over their various aspirations for 2019.

The positioning by different party leaders on 2019 has been blamed for the problems that led to the crisis in the National Assembly and also the inability of the party to inaugurate its Board of Trustees, BOT, till date.

“With Buhari contesting in 2019, those who have been squabbling will now have to queue up behind him and put the interest of the party ahead,” a source privy to the development revealed yesterday.

Remarkably, leading senators in the party on Tuesdaynight met in Abuja where they also pledged to unify themselves in the face of the prospect of losing their influence to the more united PDP caucus.

This decision is said to be fueling moves for the removal of the National Chairman of the party, Odigie-Oyegun, as some party members believe that President Buhari has been able to buy over the party machinery to his favour.

However, Oyegun has maintained that his position is not under any threat from anybody, insisting that a committee has been set up to solve the current crisis within the party.

“I am not aware that my office is under threat. I led the party to the State House. It amazes me, occasionally it annoys me. That is one of the things you have to endure when you are in a position like mine.” Oyegun maintained.

Post-Nigeria