The All Progressives Congress (APC) said it is yet to zone its presidential ticket for the 2023 general elections.
Its National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu disclosed this while speaking to State House Correspondent after presenting the party’s candidate for the Ekiti governorship election, Biodun Oyebanji, to President Muhammadu Buhari.
He was accompanied to the Presidential Villa by Ekiti Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Kebbi Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Atiku Bagudu; and National Secretary of the party Senator Iyiola Omisore.
The Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) on Thursday asked political parties to throw the contest for their presidential tickets open to all, asserting the zoning system is no longer desirable.
The ruling party swapped its national offices between North and South, leading to the emergence of Adamu from the North Central as the national chairman.
Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai just before the party’s National Convention, said even though the APC has not decided on zoning the presidential ticket, the swapping of national offices was an indication of where its presidential candidate would come from.
However, when asked where the ruling party would zone its presidential ticket to, Adamu said taking such a decision would be the job of the entire party, which he said is bigger than himself as Chairman.
“I am today privileged to be the chairman of the party. The party is greater than me. The party has not made a decision and I cannot preempt what the party decision will be,” he said.
Responding to the raging issue of when political appointees who intend to contest in the elections are expected to resign their current appointments, especially in the light of the party’s recently issued guidelines for those in the category, Adamu declined to comment, pointing out that the matter is in court.
“Thank you very much for your question. Our luck on this end is that I happen to be a lawyer and the issue you are raising is in court right now. So, it will be subjudice for me to discuss it at all,” he said.