Ondo Apc Primary:  I Have No Preferred Candidate – Buhari Declares

Source: thewillnigeria.com

BEVERLY HILLS, AUGUST 30, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari has exonerated himself from the crisis of confidence rocking the Ondo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the governorship primary election saying he has no preferred candidate.

Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir David Lawal who met with the 24 aspirants of the party, ahead of Saturday's primary, The President assured the aspirants that he would do all in his power to provide a level-playing field for all of them.

“The government of President Muhammadu Buhari wishes to reiterate that it has no preferred candidate among the 24 aspirants and that government would do all in its power to provide a level-playing field for all the aspirants,” Lawal said.

“We expect that all the aspirants will work hard to win the votes of delegates. In the tradition of APC, we expect that there will be no inducement of delegates or coercion.

“We understand that tension is high due to some underlying factors. The National Working Committee NWC of the party has assured the government and we believe them that everything will be done to ensure that elections are free and fair and we know that no official of the party would do anything to give undue advantage to any aspirant over others.

“We will like to once again reassure you that as a government, we have no preferred candidate.

“Government will come hard on anyone that does anything that in anyway jeopardises the peace and security of Ondo state.

National Secretary of the party, Mai Mala Buni also restated the position of its leadership to provide a level-playing field for all aspirants.

“This party is committed to providing free and fair election because the calibre of members that we are sending to conduct this primary election are up to the task,” he said.

“The question of either camping or inducing delegates, I am sure our delegates are people that no one can control their minds. Nobody at any level will influence their decisions.”

THEWILL recalls that one of the aspirant, Dr Tunji Abayomi, a legal luminary, had written a letter accusing a National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of endorsing one of the aspirants, Segun Abraham.

Story by David Oputah