Trouble is brewing in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the choice of its presidential standard bearer as four aspirants gang up against the party leadership over orchestrated plan to favour former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari. Already, former Vice- President Atiku Abubakar, Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Sam Nda- Isaiah have petitioned the APC national leadership, questioning the rationale for the choice of Lagos for the December 11 national convention.

The quartet had last week met to review the development in the party and the direction at which the national convention is heading. The aspirants feel that the choice of Lagos was to favour Buhari against other aspirants.

The presidential aspirants also kicked against the list of delegates from Lagos State. Of all the presidential aspirants, only Buhari failed to sign the petition. The aspirants gave the party conditions on the way forward. One, that any list of delegates from non-constitutionally recognised councils should be rejected.

Two, that the national convention of the party scheduled for December 10 and 11 be held in Benin City against Lagos or in the alternative, the date should be brought forward to the original date of December 7 and 8, and hold at Eagle Square, Abuja. New Telegraph reliably learnt that the petition was submitted to the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie- Oyegun, on Saturday at his Asokoro, Abuja residence. Odigie-Oyegun confirmed the receipt of the petition when New Telegraph contacted him last night.

Disturbed by the development, the party leaders scheduled an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) for 7p.m. yesterday and another meeting for 9a.m. today. An impeccable source told New Telegraph that the party leadership has succumbed to the wishes of the presidential aspirants by moving the national convention to Benin City still on December 10 and 11.

Source – newtelegraphonline.com