Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Nigeria’s main opposition party voted through the night to choose a candidate to challenge President Goodluck Jonathan at next year’s elections, with a result expected later on Thursday.
Proceedings at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary at a stadium in the financial capital Lagos had been due to get under way mid-afternoon on Wednesday.
But it did not start until gone 11:00 pm (2200 GMT) and the 7,214 delegates only began to cast their ballots alphabetically by state from 3:00 am.
The primary is expected to be a two-horse race between former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar, who was vice-president for eight years from 1999.
The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) formally endorsed Jonathan at a separate meeting in the capital, Abuja late on Wednesday. He was the only candidate.
Jonathan, in power since 2011, said he was honoured to have been chosen to run for a second term, which he said would build on the work of his first and make security “the utmost priority”.
The head of state said the security situation in the northeast, where Boko Haram militants have been waging an insurgency since 2009, was “improving a little”.
He also expressed hope that next February’s elections will be held countrywide, after concern that violence would largely prevent voting in the three worst-affected states.
Jonathan chose current vice-president Namadi Sambo as his running mate.
The APC a coalition of four opposition parties is seen as having its best chance of seizing power from the PDP since civilian rule returned to Nigeria in 1999.
It has been campaigning against Jonathan’s record on tackling Boko Haram, the PDP’s stewardship of the economy and also its perceived inability to tackle corruption and impunity.
Dr. Kayode Fayemi Chairman Third National Convention Planning Committee Speech at the convention
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to affirm that all our Presidential aspirants are eminently qualified to bring about the Change we all desire in our country.
They have met all requisites and have been issued Certificates of Clearance by the Presidential Screening Committee of our great party.
They all therefore have what it takes to excel as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It is heart-warming that they have all demonstrated a high degree of loyalty and commitment to the cause of a free and fair primary election, and have all also pledged to abide by the outcome and support the eventual winner.
This is highly commendable and holds the promise of a united and credible challenge against the PDP, and our eventual victory at the General Elections in 2015.
We will move on from this event to fulfill all other formalities and commence an issues based progressive campaign aimed at redeeming our land and our people.
We will address the moral deficit that has led to the breakdown of our values system, causing hydra-headed symptoms such as corruption, crass incompetence and ethno-religious bigotry.
These maladies have kept our great nation underdeveloped in spite of our vast resources. We will reach out to the critical mass of our people who are fed up with business as usual, and who believe change is possible.
We will walk in the tradition of our progressive forebears who were characterised by their commitment to aggressively setting forth ideas on how to make Nigeria great again. By the grace of God, we will move on from here and go on to win the Presidential Elections in 2015.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you all to the Third National Convention of our great party.
May God bless us all!
May God bless the All Progressives Congress (APC)!
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Thank you
