2019 Elections: Buhari Advises APC Against Unlawful Manipulations

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to avoid “illegal manoeuvres” in conducting party elections ahead of the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

Buhari said this on Monday at a meeting of the party’s national caucus held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Naija News gathered that the president advised the APC to adhere to the constitution in preparation for the party elections at all levels.

“We should strictly follow the constitution of the party in undertaking these party elections. We should ensure internal democracy and avoid shortcuts and illegal manoeuvres which have characterised the opposition party with the consequences that they are now divided,” Buhari said.

The president added, “Now that INEC has come out with the timetable for elections in 2019, the party should prepare itself for congresses at the wards, local governments, states and the centre.

“The APC has a history of conducting free and fair primaries whenever consensus about any candidacy is not reached.

“Regardless of the outcomes of the primary processes, it is imperative that we all work together to ensure the victory of our party.”

The President also lamented the situation he met the country when he assumed power in 2015.

He said, “Lest we forget, we must always remind ourselves of the dire situation in which we came to office. Therefore, we must not be shy in projecting our tremendous achievements from 2015 to date.

“The territorial integrity of Nigeria is no longer under threat. A number of security challenges still exists, but they exist in even the most well policed and well secured countries. I am confident that the measures we are taking will tackle the acts of rural banditry, herdsmen/farmers’ conflicts, communal clashes, kidnappings and other crimes.”

Buhari, however, commended the party members for the successes the APC achieved in the 2015 elections and appealed to them to support the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, whom he appointed to reconcile the party.

“This unity needed now more than ever, because elections are now looming. I must state at the outset that to succeed we must in all our actions and decisions follow strictly the constitution of our party.”

“I now turn to the party differences in various states. To this end, I have appointed a committee, headed by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a leader of the party, to reconcile differences in various states.

“We hope the committee will be given maximum support and cooperation to enable it to satisfactorily carry out its work and get the party united in purpose and in shape for the battles ahead,” the president said.