The Arewa Consultative Discussion board, ACF, has faulted solutions that no member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, ought to problem President Bola Tinubu for the get together’s presidential ticket within the 2027 elections.
In line with the northern socio-political group, such pronouncements undermine Nigeria’s structure and run opposite to democratic ideas.
Chatting with the BBC Hausa, correspondent in Kaduna, ACF spokesperson, Prof Tukur Muhammad Baba, insisted that each Nigerian has the constitutional proper to contest for any workplace, no matter area, supplied they meet the necessities of the electoral legal guidelines.
“So long as democracy is in follow and the Structure stays operational, it units out the circumstances any citizen should fulfil earlier than vying for workplace,” he stated.
“By regulation, each Nigerian, not simply from a selected zone, who meets the standards laid down by the electoral fee can contest any place, together with the presidency.”
Prof Baba pressured that though the ACF shouldn’t be a political get together, it has a accountability to talk on governance and political points that have an effect on the nation. He urged APC to permit open competitors quite than shut ranks round a single aspirant.
Reacting, APC’s Director of Publicity, Malam Bala Ibrahim, maintained that whereas the Structure ensures the proper of each certified Nigerian to run for workplace, political events additionally reserve the proper to help aspirants of their selection.
“There isn’t any query about it, the Structure permits any certified Nigerian to contest. However a political get together additionally has its personal preferences. Events rally behind candidates they imagine greatest characterize their pursuits,” he stated.
“That doesn’t imply others can be stopped from making an attempt. Anybody who qualifies can marketing campaign. However on the finish of the day, the get together will display screen and select who it considers best suited.”