APC Drama Continues As Protesters Demand Party Adopt Jonathan As Consensus Presidential Candidate

The drama preceding the Presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress appears to have no end in sight as some supporters of former President Goodluck Jonathan trooped out en masse to demand that the ex-President be made the party’s consensus presidential candidate.

There have been rumours of rancour in the ruling party after President Muhmmadu Buhari met with states’ governors and insinuated that the party will adopt a consensus candidate.

Buhari’s session with the governor has since unsettled some presidential aspirants. Prominent among them is the former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Tinubu, during a recent visit to Ogun state, recalled how he helped Buhari emerge as President. He said Buhari would have lost the election if not for his support. He also insisted that it was the “turn of the South west” to be president and he is the only one who should be given the presidential ticket.

Amid this, a group of supporters stormed the APC secretariat on Friday to demand that former President Goodluck Jonathan be made APC’s consensus presidential candidate.

Addressing reporters in front of the APC secretariat in Abuja, Umar Waja, speaking on behalf of the group, said Jonathan would steer the country to the “promised land” if elected president.

“We are calling on President Buhari and the national working committee (NWC) under the distinguished leader of senator Abdullahi Adamu to adopt Goodluck Jonathan as their consensus candidate for the betterment of this country,” Waja said.

“We saw what he did during the last six years when he was piloting the affairs of this country. We need him at this crucial time because Nigeria needs to be united and we believe that he will be the only person that will unite this country so that he will take us to the promised land where we ought to be and where we should be.

“Mr President has made it clear that as far the governors are concerned they have adopted their own concept of bringing out their successors so they should also allow him to bring his successor that is why we want Mr President to bring in Jonathan as consensus candidate.

“At this crucial time, we know Jonathan will lead this country very well. If Jonathan is the consensus candidate, he will win the election convincingly.”