The Association of former members of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in the All Progressives Congress (APC) has demanded an automatic ticket for Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2027 general polls
Also, the group demanded that the APC presidential ticket for the 2031 general polls be reserved for the ANPP as the second-largest political party that birthed the APC.
National Coordinator of the association, Prof. Vitalis Ajumbe, made the demand at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday.
Prof. Ajumbe urged President Tinubu to ensure the vice presidential ticket for the 2027 general election is reserved for the ANPP block in the APC to reward millions of party members who voted massively for him in 2023.
He asserted that since the formation of the APC, the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) has ruled the country for eight years under the late President Muhammadu Buhari, while the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is currently occupying the Presidency through Tinubu.
“Fairness and equity demand that our president should hand over power to the ANPP bloc when his tenure expires in 2031.
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“We are aware that Mr. President is too busy and may not be aware of the exclusion of the former ANPP bloc from the scheme of things, and that is why we are bringing it to his notice,” Prof. Ajumbe said.
The national coordinator further bemoaned the exclusion of members of the ANPP bloc in the appointments of ministers, ambassadors, board members, and heads of government agencies by the Tinubu administration.
He warned that the ANPP bloc in the APC may be tempted to seek greener pastures elsewhere should the bloc be rejected by the Tinubu administration.
Prof. Ajumbe said the ANPP bloc in the APC thought the coming of Tinubu as president in 2023 would erase the bad experience under the Buhari administration, but expressed dismay that the trend has continued under the current government.
“The bone of contention is that, out of the appointments so far given out, ranging from ministerial, managerial, and executive directorship among several other plum/juicy appointments under the Tinubu-led government, the ANPP bloc in APC has been conspicuously left out.
“There was never a time we doubted the political shrewdness of President Bola Tinubu as a thoroughbred politician whose coming was seen as the coming of the Messiah, to set democracy free, by ensuring that equity, justice and fair play are given the free hand to flourish, unlike what we witnessed throughout the eight years of his predecessor,” he added.
