Buhari formally picks APC presidential form to seek re-election

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has formally picked his Expression of Interest and Nomination Form to contest in the forthcoming primary election of his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the February 2019 general elections.

The form, sold for N45 million, was purchased on his behalf Wednesday September 2, 2018 by one of his support groups, the Nigerian Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN) and, perhaps now confidently equipped with constitutional guidance as per the legality of accepting the forms following the many controversies created by opposition and media organisation over the matter, President Buhari formally received the Forms from the group on Tuesday September 11, 2018.

In attendance at the State House presentation of the forms to the President were members of the NCAN led by their Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT) o the group, Hon. Farouk Adamu Aliyu accompanied by the National Coordinator of the group, Mallam Sanusi Musa.  On the side of the Presidency were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, Director of Information, Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN) among others.

Many Nigerians particularly pro-Buhari groups had both out in the streets, on the mainstream and social media enthusiastically competed with one another to contribute towards buying the form for the President.

Some of them who spoke on social media said they wanted to partaking in funding the 2019 re-election project of the President starting from the purchase of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms in sincere display of their appreciation of his good performance going to four years now as President, amidst already looted economy and obviously divided country as inherited from the 16 years of ousted political party.

The Nigerian Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN) was the group which outsmarted others in the race to purchase the forms for the President to seek re-election.

National Coordinator of the group, Mallam Sunusi Musa, who, as a lawyer and financially successful Nigerian, led his members to purchase the forms, said the President is not a multi-millionaire cash-wise, “but he has millions of supporters who are always ready to come together to pay for his nomination form”.

With the purchase a day after the APC leadership made public the primary time tables and the cost, President Muhammadu Buhari becomes the first aspirant to obtain the nomination form.

The group which was received by the Comrade Adams Oshiomohle led National Working Committee (NWC), came in hundreds to the national secretariat of the ruling party.

Speaking further, Sunusi said: “Mr. Chairman, it is my singular honour and rare privilege to present to you a cheque of N45 million as payment for the expression of interest and nomination forms for President Muhammadu Buhari.”

According to Musa, the group embarked on the project based on the recognition that the President has started laying a foundation for a better Nigeria, hence the need to consolidate on is achievements so far.

“We have no doubt that Mr. President has both in action and word being working hard to lay a foundation for greater and prosperous nation that our generation and future generations will be proud of. Under his administration Nigeria has become a country sought after for investments in the world; Nigeria has assumed its leadership role in not just Africa but the world.

“Today, Mr Chairman, Nigeria‘s moribund infrastructure is being revived. There is no state In Nigena that does not I we several major Federal Government infrastructure project either completed or being, executed under President Buhari.

“Mr. Chairman, for the first time since the return of democracy, Nigerians have a President who can beat his chest and state that he has never stolen from the purse of government. We have a President who is not having meetings at night to strike shady personal deals but rather is ensuring that every agreement entered into by Nigeria is in the interest of the country and for its generations unborn. This has indeed boosted the confidence of investors hence the increase in flow of Direct Foreign Investment into the country”, he said.