Going by the fact that candidate imposition and oppressive behaviour among party leaders had cost the All Progressive Congress a lot of strategic seats in the past, President Muhammadu Buhari has warned against that tendency to throw up candidates without the capacity to win elections in the country.
The President spoke at the 11th All Progressive Congress National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
He called on the party leaders to follow due process and develop a mechanism against corruption.
Buhari therefore indicated that the victory of the APC in the forthcoming elections would largely be a product of the party’s adherence to rules and regulations.
He said, “I enjoin you all to follow due process in all the party processes and more importantly to develop more mechanisms against corruption.
“I call on all party members to abide by all extant laws, rules, and regulations and to leaders of our party to avoid imposition of candidates that cannot win popular elections.
“This dictatorial behaviour cost us many strategic seats in the past. In the recent past this led to some of our strong members unfortunately opting to go elsewhere because of unfairly oppressive behaviour of party leaders at state level.
“I must caution strongly against any tendency towards developing cliques, in–fighting within the party. We want to win well not succumb to fractions on account of personal ACERBITIES and desire to retain control at all costs. That surely is the road to win
“I enjoin you all to recognise the place of due process in all our tasks as managers of the party. We must develop party in-built mechanisms against corruption. Our success in 2023 will depend more on our capacity to respect our own extant rules, and regulations.
The President identified the need to forge a united front for the APC, as the principal challenge before the party leaders who according to him, has a “responsibility to keep creating and sustaining compromises among party leaders and members across the country.”
He said that the party leadership has his full support in the decision of the NEC to vest its powers in the National Working Committee in compliance with the party’s constitution.
Buhari asked the party leaders to reflect on the state of insecurity, economy and corruption when he took over and now