2023: Fani-Kayode Slams Northern APC Governors Over Rejection Of Lawan

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has slammed the Northern Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for rejecting Senate President Ahmed Lawan as the consensus presidential candidate.

Naija News earlier reported that the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi, had on Monday announced Lawan as the party’s consensus candidate for the 2023 general elections.

The APC Chairman said that he arrived at the choice of Lawan after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

However, President Buhari denied the claim during a meeting with Northern APC Governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The President added that he was yet to agree on a particular aspirant.

The announcement was also denied by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

Reacting to the development, Fani-Kayode berated the Northern APC governors for singlehandedly zoning the party’s presidential ticket.

He opined that it is for the President, the National Chairman, the NWC and the delegates to decide who becomes the party’s flagbearer in 2023.

The former minister also stated that the challenge to the authority of the APC National Chairman was unacceptable and should be condemned by all members of the party.

Fani-Kayode, an ally of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, said the Northern governors should have respected the supremacy of the party. He also warned the governors against forcing anyone to step down by excluding them from the ballot at the Convention.

He reminded them that their action will be violating section 84 of the Electoral Act and that the aspirant will go to court and turn the whole proceeding into a nullity.

In a series of tweets via his verified Twitter handle on Tuesday, Fani-Kayode said the governors do not have the power to determine the aspirants nor determine who the candidate would be.

He wrote: “It is NOT for the Northern Governors to singlehandedly ZONE or DETERMINE the Presidential candidate of our party. It is for the President, the Nat. Chairman, the NWC & the delegates to decide. A challenge to the authority of the Chairman and supremacy of the party is unacceptable.

“APC NORTHERN GOVERNORS HEAR THIS: If you try to force anyone to step down by excluding them from the ballot at the Convention know that you are violating section 84 of the Electoral Act and that aspirant will go to court and turn the whole proceeding into a nullity.

“The Northern Governors that are saying they are zoning the ticket & reducing the aspirants to 3 ought to be mindful of this. They do not have that power & neither ought they try to determine who our candidate ought to be.

“Let everyone run& let there be a level playing field.”