By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
Allies of former Governor of Benue and Nasarawa, George Akume and Abdullahi Adamu, yesterday picked the twenty million chairmanship forms for their principals, even as they said the two candidates remain upbeat in clinching the leadership of the party.
Leading Akume supporters yesterday to purchase the form was Senator Barnabas Gemade, who, fielding questions from journàlists at the Party Secretariat, said “On behalf of Minister of special duties and governmental affairs, who is aspiring to be national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, this event is for us to come and pick the form for him so that he can fill to satisfy the conditions of the party for the contest of this post.
“We believe that what we have done today is a landmark event and we pray that the Convention goes smoothly and this party becomes stronger at the end of it and the best candidate, which we believe will be Akume, to win this position in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Speaking on the chances of Akume to win the position, Gemade said “How can you ask a contestant what his chances are? His chances are good. Now, everyone of them, if you ask them, they will tell you their chances are good. And we know that God knows the winner and we believe that His mercies are good for us and at the end of the day, we will be satisfied with whatever our God does for us.”
On the issue of consensus, the senator said “Whatever the party chooses. The party has the final say. If at the end of the day, the party is able to consummate a consensus exercise for this contest, we agree with it.
“However, if they decide that there should be a balloting for this contest, we will go with the balloting and whatever the outcome is, we will accept.”
In a related development, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, whose form was picked by his Director General of Campaign Organization, Hon. Lawrence Onuchukwu, said “If you have been following the antecedents of Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, you will know and agree with me that this is the man that has capacity and the capability to pilot the affairs of this great party.
“You will also agree with me if you are a member of this party that he was the chairman of a nine member committee saddled with the responsibility of reconciling the party, that made us have some Governors who joined the party. That alone is a major reason why he should come and pilot the affairs of this great party.”
Speaking on whether he is the candidate of President Buhari as alleged, Onuchukwu said “If that rumour is anything to go by, it is a boost for us. Mr President, as a man of integrity, I am sure, will not want to associate himself with someone who does not have capacity to actualize the vision of this party.
“And you are also aware that we must not pretend that the party has some challenges and you need an administrator, a politician, you need a person who can handle the party.
“The CECPC chairman, Governor Buni of Yobe state is a good man. Through him, we have seen many Governors decamping into our party, it shows that he is a great man. But in life, you will have to start from somewhere and end somewhere, so that someone else will continue from there.
“And, I can assure you that Abdullahi Adamu, who has seen it all as a former Minister, two term governor and three term senator. What is left is for this man to come and give service to this great party and take this party to the next level.”
He said the party in her wisdom has zoned the national chairmanship to the North Central zone, saying since more than one person has obtained the chairmanship form, the Electoral Act signed by the President has made it clear that election can be conducted either by direct, indirect or concensus.
