Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman, has expressed concern over prospects of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) retaining power after the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure in 2023.
Lukman said his fear was based on realisation that the electoral advantage of the APC in the 2015 and 2019 elections was more on account of the presence of Buhari in the party.
In a statement entitled “Determining Factors for 2023 Contests in APC”, Lukman argued: “There is yet to be another chieftain of the APC with the electoral profile of President Buhari, as things stand presently.”
The DG, who described Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a shadow opposition whose electoral prospects are largely dependent on the outcome of internal contests in the APC, said APC’s winning streaks would be sustained if the leaders avoid recklessness and act of indiscipline ahead of the 2023 election.
According to him, the unity of APC leaders remains a fundamental precondition for the party to continue to enjoy the electoral advantages associated with President Buhari.
“The questions, which every APC leader and member needs to answer are: will the APC continue to enjoy such electoral advantage when President Buhari is not the presidential candidate of the party; is there another leader in APC with the towering electoral profile of President Buhari?
“The emergence of Buhari as a candidate did not produce the conventional leadership disagreements associated with political contests. All those who contested the primary election with him accepted the results and declared support for his candidature in the 2015 presidential election.
“Once APC can manage the process of an internal contest for the emergence of candidates of the party for 2023 elections such that all those who contested with the winners can accept the outcomes as well as support the candidates, it would be possible for the party to continue to enjoy all the electoral advantages associated with President Buhari,” the DG said.
