So far, at least six of the party’s serving 24 governors have openly declared support for the President to seek the party’s ticket for re-election in 2019, Punch learnt.
These are Kano Sate Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, Solomon Lalong of Plateau State; Yahaya Bello of Kogi State; Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State; Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State as well as Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
A top-ranking member of APC, who spoke on condition of anonymity so as “not to ruffle feathers”, told Punch that party members, who considered themselves “core Buharists”, did not foresee any threat to his candidacy at least from “anywhere in northern Nigeria.”
He explained that as members of a political party, no matter which aspirant a person or group of persons supported, it was incumbent on such people to respect others who had other preferences.
The source said, “It is for the same reason why no one could talk about sanctions for the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, when some mischiefmakers leaked a video of her endorsing former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the needless controversy which followed.
“With all these noise being made by some people and the misleading headlines you see these days, tell me one person, within or outside the APC in Nigeria today, who can defeat President Buhari if he decides to run in 2019? Name one!”
According to him, the APC is determined not to repeat the mistakes made by the former ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, by taking party members for granted.
He added, “When you hear some of our party members saying no automatic ticket, they are referring to history. How far did candidate Buhari go when he was given an automatic ticket by the defunct CPC?
“Remember that at the height of the PDP’s impunity in 2015, only one presidential form was printed and it was only for the then President Goodluck Jonathan. We have learnt from history.”
The source explained that as part of strategies to get more of the party’s powerful governors on board, the President had started consulting governors on appointments into the headship of federal agencies.
Also, a member of the party’s National Working Committee, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said the issue of getting some governors on board was inevitable.
He said, “You will agree with me that as they say, all politics is local. No aspirant can make impact in an election, especially at the federal level, all alone.
“Our governors control the logistics required to get things done in the states. The President, Senators and members of the House of Reps are not elected in Abuja, they must come from the states. We recognise this; so, we know we must have them all on board to ensure victory.”
Also, OluFamous.Com gathered that some insiders among those who believe they have the ears of the president are considering a governor from the South as Buhari's running mate for 2019.
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