Ahmad Lawal, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi may be the three presidential candidates to slug it out, following the announcement of APC National Chairman, that Lawal is the preferred candidate of APC.

 

National Chairman, All Progressives Congress,, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on Monday, told National Working Committee, NWC, members that Senate President Ahmad Lawan will be the consensus candidate of the party.

 

Newsonline reported that the announcement by Abdullahi Adamu, APC, did not go down well with members of the National Working Committe, which insisted that all aspirants shall be allowed to contest.

 

In the announcement from the former governor of Nasarawa State, Adamu, said other aspirants shall have the right to contest with the senate president, Ahmad Lawal, who has become the consensus candidate and favoured candidate of President Buhari.

 

What is the position the 2022 amended electoral act, on consensus candidate and what political game is going to be played in the 2023 general election?

 

Newsonline had reported that on January 25, the National Assembly, headed by Senator Ahmad Lawal, passed a harmonized re-amended electoral act 2022, with a clause that included consensus as one of three options for primary elections; still retaining the options of direct and indirect primaries.

 

The Clause 84(9)(a) of the re-amended 2022 Electoral Act states that: “A political party that adopts a consensus candidate shall secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the position, indicating their voluntary withdrawal from the race and their endorsement of the consensus candidate.”

 

Newsonline reports that among other aspirants for the presidential candidate of the APC, such written consent has not be given as at press time.

 

Where consent from aspirants is not obtained, the clause continued, the party would jettison the consensus arrangement and proceed with either direct or indirect primary election.

 

Clause 84(9)(b), states: “Where a political party is unable to secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the purpose of a consensus candidate, it shall revert to the choice of direct or indirect primaries for the nomination of candidates for the aforesaid elective positions.”

 

Clause 84(9)(c) further states that even when aspirants tender written documents to pave the way for emergence of consensus candidates, “a special convention or nomination congress will be held to ratify the choice of consensus candidates at the national, state, senatorial, federal and state constituencies, as the case may be.”

 

The amended Electoral  Act, also stated that where there is only one aspirant or a consensus candidate in a political party for an elective position, “a special convention will be convened at a designated venue for the confirmation of the aspirant after which his name will be forwarded to INEC as the candidate.”

 

READ ALSO: Unfinished: Apology Not Enough – Adamu, APC Chair, Slams Tinubu

 

The consensus candidacy of Ahmed Lawal as announced by, APC, National Chairman, Adamu, has not followed the Electoral Act. This could be why the National Working Committee maintained that all contestants be given room to contest.

 

2022 Electoral Act: Lawal, Atiku, Peter Obi and Consensus Candidate

 

Newsonline reported that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice president, emerged the Peoples democratic Party candidate for the 2023 genera election.

 

Though Atiku did not emerge through consensus, but he shares the same geo-political environment with Ahmad Lawal. While Atiku is from Adamawa State, Lawal is from Yobe state.

 

Could it be that the APC are fighting to get the votes of North-East, where Atiku and Lawal belong to? Then the general votes of the 19 states of Northern Nigeria.

 

READ ALSO: Bola Tinubu’s Strategic Outburst, Buhari’s Undoing

 

North-East, one the geo-political zones in Nigeria, since the return to democracy in 1999, has not produced the country’s president, like South-East.

 

The votes of North seems to be the deciding factor the rush for 2023 general election.

 

2022 Electoral Act: Lawal, Atiku, Peter Obi and Consensus Candidate

 

Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra state, was given the consensus candidate of Labour Party, after he defected from the Peoples Democratic party, following what he called ideological differences.

 

Does Peter Obi candidacy follow the stipulation of the 2022 amended Electoral Act? Shall his candidacy be later challenged in the court?

 

The former Anambra governor  has gathered most most youths and celebrities, who have thrown in their weight to ensure his emergence come 2023 general election.

 

Newsonline had reported that Peter Obi’s social media following has been a cause of worry to other candidates including Atiku. Read more.

 

After the general elections of all political parties, shall INEC, the electoral body review these candidates in line with the provisions of the 2022 amended Electoral Act?

 

Has Peter Obi presidency been made easy by Lawal and Atiku candidacy?

 

Shall candidates head to court? Is Peter Obi, Ahmad Lawal, Atiku Abubakar, and their parties aware of the Electoral Act’s position on consensus candidacy.