2023: Buhari reveals candidates he will support

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday declared that only candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will get his support in the 2023 elections.

The President in a statement by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu stated that those who defected to other parties or instituted court cases against validly elected APC candidates and the party will not get his support.

He also cautioned those who have defected from the APC to stop linking him with their actions as he remains absolutely committed to the party.

According to Buhari, the APC brought him to power and he won’t do anything that will undermine or jeopardize the chances of the party in the forthcoming election.

The statement reads: “The Presidency wishes to put it on record, and at the same time, reassure faithful party members that President Muhammadu Buhari remains a “disciplined soldier” of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and will, in all the coming elections, support only those candidates fielded by the party and no other,” the statement reads.

“This is a warning to decamped party members and some others who are still in court against official candidates of the APC that they are on their own and nobody outside the party tent should link what they are doing to President Buhari.

“The President wishes to be quoted as saying that he is the “occupant of the high office of the President by the Grace of God who used the instrumentality of the APC to bring him to power with a historic verdict in 2015.”

“In 2019, he was returned with a bigger majority. For the first time, a non-PDP government came to power with a huge majority after 16 years of the Fourth Republic. His constant refrain is: “I will not betray or undermine my party by supporting candidates other than those of the APC.”

The statement however clarified that the President’s statement and position is not against any particular person but other parties and candidates are welcome to support APC candidates.

He said: “This statement is not against any particular candidate. However, our stand is clear that only those candidates fielded by the All Progressives Candidates, APC will enjoy the support of the President and they are the ones he will campaign for. However, we welcome support for our candidates at all levels by other parties.”

Buhari also re-affirmed his commitment “to enforce discipline, synchronization and coordination” at all levels of the APC.

Continuing in the statement, President Buhari cautioned officials in his administration against making unguarded statements that can be used against them by the opposition.

The President warned presidential villa officials against “engaging in loose talk”, while urging them “to resist making controversial statements” that may hurt the party and the government.

According to him, loose talks can be “a weapon for the opposition to use against the administration, the party or its candidates” in the election.