Buhari and Atiku set to contest As APC Presidential candidates

AS frontrunners position for the party’s major electoral ticket, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Thursday disclosed that it would adopt the modified direct primaries to pick its presidential candidate in October ahead of the 2015 general elections.Among the gladiators squaring up for the contest for the ticket include the former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Guardian reports.The APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, told newsmen at the end of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting Thursday that the model would ensure even participation of members from across the country.

He explained that the primaries, which would be staggered, would involve elected officials of the party from across the 36 states of the federation and those aspiring for governorship, national and state assemblies, and local council seats.Justifying the adoption of the modified direct primaries, which could attract no fewer than 300,000 delegates, he said it was aimed at ensuring that whoever emerges the party’s flag bearer enjoys the support of Nigerians.More so, apart from guaranteeing full participation, openness and fairness, the model would make it difficult for any moneybag to buy up all delegates’ votes, he added.Mohammed noted: “We would want to ensure the participation of a large section of our people.“We have opted for what we call modified direct primaries for the party. We call it modified because we are conscious of getting all our about 20 million members to queue up, especially in areas where we have security challenges like Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states. So we are working on a formula that would enable the largest members of our party to participate.“What I can assure is that we are not settling for delegates election. We want the grassroots to be involved in our primaries. We want to show the world that we are different, that our party is not only grassroots inspired but that it would also be free and fair.”He stated that the outcome of the primaries would subsequently be ratified at the party’s national convention.Meanwhile, Mohammed said the defection of one of their chieftains, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, was inconsequential to the party since it is well rooted across the country.