2023: APC Presidential Candidate’ll Give Masses Sense of Victory, Confidence, Says Buhari

* Consultation on to carry all aspirants along* Promises to give stronger leadership to party

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday gave a hint of the kind of presidential candidate the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will produce at its convention next Monday, saying the candidate will be such an individual that will give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence ahead of the 2023 polls.
Addressing APC governors under the aegis of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) at a closed-door meeting attended by the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, at the State House, Abuja, President Buhari stressed that: “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.”
According to a release issued by the Media Adviser to the President, Femi Adesina, the president appealed to the 22 APC 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”.
President Buhari assured the governor’s that the consultation process will continue, to ensure that all aspirants and stakeholders would be brought on board right through to the convention, stressing that it would also ensure that any anxiety occasioned by different factors are effectively brought under control, “and that our party emerges stronger”.

The president also charged the APC governors to ensure that the forthcoming convention to pick a presidential candidate reflects all the values and virtues of the party.

He said: “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.

“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 centre, 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.”
Speaking on behalf of the PGF, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State and Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, 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”.

According to him: “We will support Mr President to have a very successful convention.”