APC Picks Presidential Candidate Today …Buhari, Atiku Lead Pack

Thousands of delegates of the All Progressive Congress (APC) across the country have already converged in Lagos   for its national convention to elect its flag bearer in the February 2015 President election.
Frontline aspirants includes former Head of state, General Muhammed Buhari (rtd), Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Kwankwaso, Chief Rocha Okorocha and Sam Nda Isiah, the publisher of National Leadership Newspaper.
Our political correspondent reports that most of the aspirants concluded their tour of the states last Monday. The aspirants in the last few weeks embarked on serious campaigns to woo state delegates for the Wednesday convention.
Also, the People’s Democratic Party PDP will hold its national convention at the Eagles Square, Abuja, today and tomorrow.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, who stated this yesterday, while briefing journalists in Abuja gave conditions under which it said its presidential candidate will debate with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress.
On the convention, Metuh said that 3070 delegates had been accredited to endorse the candidature of President Jonathan even though he remains the sole candidate of the party. The vote, he said, was in line with the Electoral Act and the electoral guidelines released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said the first day of the convention would be used to ratify the selection of the Acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu; the Acting National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo and the Acting National Auditor, Wale Adeyanju.
He said the party was not aware of the presidential aspiration of Prof. Akasoba Duke Abiola, adding that the aspirant would likely be coming to the convention ground as a delegate.
Metuh  said that President Goodluck Jonathan would be ready to debate with any presidential candidate, but insisted that such debate must be based on issues.
He said, “We will be willing to debate. We want it, we ask for it because we want Nigerians to know who is best to lead this country. But let us elevate the conduct of this election. We will base it (the debate) on who is best for this country in terms of unity of this nation, who is best to stabilise our public policy, who is best to lead us to prosperity. On those three and other issues we will debate with whoever is the candidate of APC.”
The spokesperson of the ruling party said, “We have a very good product to sell to Nigerians. GEJ will win the 2015 presidential poll based on his popularity. We are today sending notice to the opposition party, the APC, to expect a crushing defeat at the poll.
“In view of our confidence, preparedness and the popularity of our candidate, we declare and urge the APC to put forward its two frontline aspirants in one pot, namely: Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku as joint presidential candidates with their collective credentials and followership to face our president, Goodluck Jonathan. For us in the PDP, we are certain that with the grassroots support and love we enjoy from Nigerians across board, President Goodluck Jonathan will secure an emphatic victory against any presidential candidate of the APC or all the candidates put together as one.
“The PDP is rest assured that we have a very good product to sell to Nigerians.  We are confident that President Jonathan, as our candidate, is primed to win the 2015 presidential election based on his popularity deriving from his forthrightness, humility and steadfastness to the Nigerian project coupled with his record of verifiable achievements,” he said.

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi with Kano State Governor and All Progressives Congress presidential aspirant, Rabiu Amusa Kwankwaso during a meeting with the party’s delegates in Port Harcourt.