Buhari, Atiku woo delegates from non-APC states

Ahead of Wednesday’s presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress, a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar are already wooing delegates from the 22 non-APC states.

Atiku and Buhari

Though there are five candidates contesting for the party’s presidential ticket, Saturday PUNCH learnt that the two aspirants were more engaged in a fierce “last battle” for the ticket and had shifted to 22 states that the party does not currently have governors for support.

Investigations also showed that there were fears in the party that monetary inducement of delegates might influence the result of the primary, if proper planning was not made.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that except for Kano and Imo states, where the incumbent governors are presidential aspirants, the 12 remaining governors are rooting for Buhari.

Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano State) and Governor Rochas Okorochas (Imo) are among the five APC presidential aspirants, who also include the publisher of Leadership newspaper, Mr. Sam Nda-Isiah.

Atiku is believed to be ahead of other aspirants in visiting delegates in the APC and non-APC states.

The former vice-president, it was gathered, was not resting on his oars despite having visited all the states.

He was said to be making use of his political associates in the 22 non-APC states to reach out to delegates.

A party chieftain, who confided in Saturday PUNCH, said, “In Ekiti and Ondo states for example, his friend and former Aviation Minister, Babalola Borisade, is coordinating for him.

“There is no state in the country where Atiku does not have business and political associates and he is using them to counter moves against him,” the source said.

It was learnt that Buhari and the 12 governors backing him were disturbed that this might give the former vice-president an advantage over other aspirants.

In order to checkmate him, however, Saturday PUNCH learnt that Buhari, the 12 governors rooting for him and other strong supporters of his had intensified effort to also get the full support of delegates from the 22 non-APC states.

While Atiku is believed to have the financial muscle to induce the non-APC states’ delegates for votes, the Buhari camp is also said to have moved to capture the votes of the well-sought after delegates.

As part of efforts to check Atiku’s influence in non-APC states and assist Buhari, investigations showed that the 12 governors had decided to take care of delegates from their neigbouring states at the convention on Wednesday.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the 12 governors would pull resources together to provide hotel accommodation for the delegates, feed them and also mobilise them with money.

Apart from this, it was also learnt that the Buhari support group backed by the governors would ensure that the delegates under their care would be shielded away from Atiku canvassers. They will be locked in their hotels.

This, it was learnt, is to ensure that Atiku and his aides do not have access to them, thereby influencing them against Buhari.

It was also learnt that the delegates will be transported to the venue of the primary so as to properly monitor their movement and ensure that they cast their votes for Buhari.

The governors, it was learnt, would not stop at that but seek the support of the APC governorship candidates who would have emerged before Wednesday’s presidential primary to secure delegates’ votes from the 22 non-APC states.

Explaining the governors’ moves, another chieftain of the party, who confided in Saturday PUNCH, said, “You cannot rule out the influence of money in a presidential primary like this. Our ticket is not for the highest bidder. That is why our governors will take care of delegates from their states and neighbouring states.”

But the Chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in an interview in Abuja, said that the party would be responsible for transport and accommodation of delegates.

Asked about measures being put in place to check monetary inducement of delegates since the delegates could be induced, Fayemi, said, “I can’t speculate on what people are hearing and what people have been accused of doing or not doing. I can tell you that we are making adequate preparation for all delegates. We will be responsible for their transport and accommodation.”

He explained that over 8,000 party delegates from all over the country would choose the party’s presidential candidate between December 10 and 11 this year.

He was, however, silent on who would be responsible for the feeding of the delegates.

But state chapters of the party differ on who will take care of delegates at the national convention in Lagos.

Buhari and Atiku, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH spoke about their chances.

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Buhari, Atiku woo delegates from non-APC states