The Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, held a meeting behind closed doors in Abuja after an earlier meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
The meeting of the progressive governors’ forum (PGF) held at the Kebbi governor’s lodge
Top on the agenda was the position of President Muhammadu Buhari on the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the APC primary scheduled for June 6 to 8
By the end of the meeting however, the APC governors were unable to reach an agreement and resolved to reconvene to continue discussion.
Buhari had solicited the support of the governors in picking his successor, just like they picked theirs, before he jetted out to Spain.
Speaking to Premium Times, a governor said he and his colleagues were unable to reach an agreement on how to implement Buhari’s request.
According to him, “We believe the president has not settled for any particular person and that is why some governors felt the best thing to do was to nominate two of us (one each from the north and south) to the president for consideration,” the source said.
He disclosed that northern governors had urged their colleagues to pick an aspirant from the south, according to them no southern governor could defeat Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, in the presidential election.
Angered by the proposition, some of the southern governors also argued that the nominees do not have to be state governors.
Reports say that those pushing for a candidate from the South who is not a governor are those loyal to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and ex-Lagos governor Bola Tinubu.
They however agreed to reconvene the meeting.
Buhari had earlier called on the governors to ensure that the presidential primary reflects internal democracy.
“As we approach the convention, I appeal to all of you 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,” he said.
“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.
“In keeping with the established internal policies of the party and as we approach the convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.
“I wish to assure you that the consultation process shall continue to ensure that all aspirants and stakeholders would be brought on board right through to the convention