President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday advised the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress to avoid what he called “illegal manoeuvres” in picking the party’s candidates at all levels for the 2019 elections.
He urged them to ensure internal democracy and avoid shortcuts which he said had characterised opposition party and had left it divided.
Buhari made the call in his remarks at the opening ceremony of the party’s national caucus meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said, “Now that INEC has come out with the timetable for elections in 2019, the party should prepare itself for congresses at wards, local governments, states and the centre.
“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.
“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.”
He urged them to ensure internal democracy and avoid shortcuts which he said had characterised opposition party and had left it divided.
Buhari made the call in his remarks at the opening ceremony of the party’s national caucus meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said, “Now that INEC has come out with the timetable for elections in 2019, the party should prepare itself for congresses at wards, local governments, states and the centre.
“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.
“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.”