Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu
Atiku shops for running mate
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The Chairman of the Presidential Screening Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said the committee will ensure that all the aspirants that would go before the national convention meet the stipulated requirements of the
Constitution and the electoral guidelines.
Constitution and the electoral guidelines.
Ahead of the December 10 date for the presidential primaries of the APC, indications at the weekend showed that the former Vice-President and a presidential aspirant of the party, Atiku Abubakar, has started considering his choice of running mate for the 2015 presidential election.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with THISDAY yesterday in Abuja, Onu said the party would avoid fielding anyone who may be asked to leave office after winning the election because such a person did not meet the requirements of either the Constitution or the electoral law.
“We will be looking at the 1999 Constitution as amended to make sure that all aspirants that will go before the national convention meets the stipulations of the Constitution. We want to be sure that our candidate is one that Nigerians will accept and that will be complying with all the requirements of the laws of the nation and the committee will be fair, would be just and we will do what is right, “ he said.
Under the Electoral law as amended (2010), apart from the listed requirements on age, education and nationality status, a candidate for an election shall be nominated in writing by such number of persons whose names appear on the register of voters in the constituency as the commission may prescribe.
The law also stated that where a candidate knowingly allows himself to be nominated by more than one political party and or in more than one constituency his nomination shall be void.
“We will be looking at the 1999 Constitution as amended to make sure that all aspirants that will go before the national convention meets the stipulations of the Constitution. We want to be sure that our candidate is one that Nigerians will accept and that will be complying with all the requirements of the laws of the nation and the committee will be fair, would be just and we will do what is right, “ he said.
Under the Electoral law as amended (2010), apart from the listed requirements on age, education and nationality status, a candidate for an election shall be nominated in writing by such number of persons whose names appear on the register of voters in the constituency as the commission may prescribe.
The law also stated that where a candidate knowingly allows himself to be nominated by more than one political party and or in more than one constituency his nomination shall be void.
However, Onu who spoke shortly after the inauguration of the committee last Thursday explained that the committee’s role is to ensure that a credible presidential candidate emerges to fly APC’s flag at the 2015 election.
“There is no special appeal committee so the party itself has so much confidence in the membership of the presidential screening committee that if there is any form of disagreement it goes straight to the working committee, so we want to assure you that we will do what is right but in doing so, we will be fair and just to all,” he said.
“There is no special appeal committee so the party itself has so much confidence in the membership of the presidential screening committee that if there is any form of disagreement it goes straight to the working committee, so we want to assure you that we will do what is right but in doing so, we will be fair and just to all,” he said.
Against the background of failed attempts by the party at mid-wifing a consensus among the presidential aspirants, the former National Chairman of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) said the doors of consensus bargaining was still open.
He said there was still that possibility of negotiating a consensus by the aspirants because the convention would be coming up on December 10 and 11, adding that the party would be interested in making sure that it upholds its constitution and that of the country.
On how the party hopes to facilitate the consensus talks, Onu said the aspirants can explore an understanding through several meetings of the party and since it is in the interest of country, the party will support the move.
Meanwhile, THISDAY has obtained a document from the campaign strategists of the former vice-president which listed three factors that may be considered, political balance, religious balance and competence balance as yardstick for deciding who would be selected as running mate, if he eventually picks the part’s ticket.
The document revealed that on the factor of political balance, the critical issue is the need for North-South balance.
The South refers to the three geo-political zones of the South namely: South-south, South-east and South-west.
As part of the strategy to ensure political balance, the former vice-president has penciled down one of four APC governors from the South as his running mate namely, Rochas Okorocha of Imo (South-east); Babatunde Fashola of Lagos (South-west); Adams Oshiomhole (South-south) and Rotimi Amaechi also of the South-south.
This option is expected to appease the incumbent governors of the party and perhaps sway support in favour of Atiku.
In the case of Okorocha, it is feared that this would have limited political value as it would likely not attract enough votes from the South-west.
He said there was still that possibility of negotiating a consensus by the aspirants because the convention would be coming up on December 10 and 11, adding that the party would be interested in making sure that it upholds its constitution and that of the country.
On how the party hopes to facilitate the consensus talks, Onu said the aspirants can explore an understanding through several meetings of the party and since it is in the interest of country, the party will support the move.
Meanwhile, THISDAY has obtained a document from the campaign strategists of the former vice-president which listed three factors that may be considered, political balance, religious balance and competence balance as yardstick for deciding who would be selected as running mate, if he eventually picks the part’s ticket.
The document revealed that on the factor of political balance, the critical issue is the need for North-South balance.
The South refers to the three geo-political zones of the South namely: South-south, South-east and South-west.
As part of the strategy to ensure political balance, the former vice-president has penciled down one of four APC governors from the South as his running mate namely, Rochas Okorocha of Imo (South-east); Babatunde Fashola of Lagos (South-west); Adams Oshiomhole (South-south) and Rotimi Amaechi also of the South-south.
This option is expected to appease the incumbent governors of the party and perhaps sway support in favour of Atiku.
In the case of Okorocha, it is feared that this would have limited political value as it would likely not attract enough votes from the South-west.
Some APC chieftains from the South-east have however dismissed the fear on the grounds that giving the vice-presidential slot will not attract electoral patronage from millions of Igbos living in the various parts of the country.
In the same vein, these South-east stakeholders have warned that any attempt to deny them the chance of producing the number two man in government would further confirm the Igbo people’s fears that APC was meant to serve the interest of only the North and the South-west.
In the same vein, these South-east stakeholders have warned that any attempt to deny them the chance of producing the number two man in government would further confirm the Igbo people’s fears that APC was meant to serve the interest of only the North and the South-west.
On the contrary, those who favoured Fashola to be picked believe that he would garner huge votes from the South-west.
The problem of this choice, however, is the Muslim-Muslim ticket that Nigerians might not support.
In the case of the Edo State governor, Oshiomhole and Governor of Rotimi Amaechi, it is feared that the political value is low as they can only deliver a limited number of South-south votes.
Governor Fashola and Mr. Wale Edun are being considered based their proven competence but it is said that the Fashola card can only work if Tinubu gives his support.
In the same vein, Edun is seen as a smart and intelligent person who is a key member of the Tinubu group.
The Atiku campaign team noted in the document that having acknowledged that Nigerians would not back a ticket dominated by same religion and for Atiku to ensure religious balance, he might have to choose one of three persons namely Professor Yemi Osibajo, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora.
The problem of this choice, however, is the Muslim-Muslim ticket that Nigerians might not support.
In the case of the Edo State governor, Oshiomhole and Governor of Rotimi Amaechi, it is feared that the political value is low as they can only deliver a limited number of South-south votes.
Governor Fashola and Mr. Wale Edun are being considered based their proven competence but it is said that the Fashola card can only work if Tinubu gives his support.
In the same vein, Edun is seen as a smart and intelligent person who is a key member of the Tinubu group.
The Atiku campaign team noted in the document that having acknowledged that Nigerians would not back a ticket dominated by same religion and for Atiku to ensure religious balance, he might have to choose one of three persons namely Professor Yemi Osibajo, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora.
It also spotted Osibajo who is said to be close to the Tinubu group.
Osibajo is a serving Pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and a close associate of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the (RCCG).
It is believed that many Christians will support this choice.
The Chairman of the APC Convention Planning Committee, Fayemi, is equally in reckoning in spite of his loss of the Ekiti governorship election.
Osibajo is a serving Pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and a close associate of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the (RCCG).
It is believed that many Christians will support this choice.
The Chairman of the APC Convention Planning Committee, Fayemi, is equally in reckoning in spite of his loss of the Ekiti governorship election.
He is considered as a visionary leader with a track record that would resonate at home and abroad.
Another possible choice is Senator Mamora, which if picked by Atiku is expected to bring a groundswell of support of serving and former Senators nationwide.
But when contacted, the Atiku Media Office denied knowledge of the existence of such a document.
The Coordinator of the media office Mallam Garba Shehu, said: “The aforesaid document is unknown to us but what we can confirm is that the Turaki will not pick a man or woman as running-mate as agreed by the leadership of the party of when he gets to that bridge.”
Another possible choice is Senator Mamora, which if picked by Atiku is expected to bring a groundswell of support of serving and former Senators nationwide.
But when contacted, the Atiku Media Office denied knowledge of the existence of such a document.
The Coordinator of the media office Mallam Garba Shehu, said: “The aforesaid document is unknown to us but what we can confirm is that the Turaki will not pick a man or woman as running-mate as agreed by the leadership of the party of when he gets to that bridge.”
Source: Thisdaylive
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