Buhari’s Forms Purchase: You are too reputable to rush into sensational reportage, APC replies ThisDay Newspaper, as NCAN President lambasts PDP over bribery allegation

*Says there is a world of difference between “Aspirant” and “Candidate”

*Insists no contravention of Electoral Act 2010 committed

“While we restate that as a political Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) mandate observance and compliance with the dictates of the law, we also acknowledge that this singular act by thousands of Nigerians severely jolted the ranks of opposition politicians and their paid agents in the media hence their desperate attempt to tar such a noble gesture with the brush of illegality. This is especially the case considering the loud silence of Thisday Newspapers when former Vice President Atiku Abubakar enjoyed the same gesture from his supporters to purchase the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms for the 2019 presidential election,” the APC said.

Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned a Nigerian print media organisation, ThisDay, over what it described as its rush into sensational reportage cooking up needless controversy with purchase, by a group, of an Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for President Muhammadu Buhari.

The purchase of the Forms was done on Wednesday by the Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN) to enable the President seek the presidential ticket of the APC in the coming primaries of the Party.

Aside the editorials by ThisDay, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had expectedly kicked saying the purchase was a bribe to enable members of the group get something in return from the President when he gets re-elected in 2019.  But the Sunusi, a lawyer and president of the group, speaking on Ray Power 100.5 FM Friday morning, challenged the opposition party to, instead of making unfounded allegation, go back to their legal advisers and get themselves educated about the legality of what his group, NCAN, did purchasing the forms for the President as “aspirant” and not “candidate”.

He added that “I am a lawyer and I know the law.  All of us in the group are well to do people who do not need to be compensated in any way for anything we do in support of Buhari who we know has done quite well.  If we gave our support in 2015 and up till now I, and none of us, have not been given any appointment and, yet, we are now buying the forms for him to seek re-election, it should tell you that we are doing what we are doing as a selfless effort in the interest of Nigeria,” Sunusi said.

Reacting to the Thursday’s two-page reports by ThisDay, the APC, in a statement titled, “Re: Thisday Newspaper Reports on Purchase of Nomination Forms for President Buhari”, issued by its Acting National Publicity Secretary Yekini Nabena copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER, was stunned by involvement of the media organisation as spelt out in the September 6, 2018 editorials titled, “Contrary to Electoral Act, Group Buys N45m Nomination Forms for Buhari” and “Thisday Editors Urge President to Reject Forms”.

Acknowledging the facts as reported that Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network paid the sum of N45, 000, 000.00 (Forty five million naira) for the purchase of the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for President Muhammdau Buhari, the ruling Party in its review of the reports noted that ThisDay Newspaper cited Section 91 (9) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended) thus: “No individual or other entity shall donate more than one million naira (N1, 000, 000.00) to any candidate.”

However, the APC made its case clear, “From the above, it is pertinent to advise that Thisday Newspaper as a reputable news outlet ought to restrain itself from such sensational reportage and avail its team with good legal advice before rushing to conclusion based on erroneous legal grounds.”

It added that, “Aside the fact that there is a world of difference between an “Aspirant” and a “Candidate” in the eyes of the law, there has been no contravention of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). The Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN) was responsible for the purchase of the Presidential Form for President Muhammadu Buhari and has indicated that it acted as a collection medium to aggregate micro contributions from thousands of Nigerians keen to ensure his re-election.” It said.

The statement continued, “While we restate that as a political Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) mandate observance and compliance with the dictates of the law, we also acknowledge that this singular act by thousands of Nigerians severely jolted the ranks of opposition politicians and their paid agents in the media hence their desperate attempt to tar such a noble gesture with the brush of illegality.

“This is especially the case considering the loud silence of Thisday Newspapers when former Vice President Atiku Abubakar enjoyed the same gesture from his supporters to purchase the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms for the 2019 presidential election.

“While we respect Thisday Newspapers laudable contributions to the media industry, we call on the Newspaper to be fair and balanced in its reportage,” the APC said.

Chairman of ThisDay Newspaper, Nduka Obaigbena, was one of the people the current Administration recovered arms money wrongfully taken from nation’s coffers from at the commencement of the government’s anti-corruption fight.