AFTER initial hitches and several hours delay, the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential primaries kicked last night with most of the aspirants taking part.
The Chief John Odigie-Oyegun led screening committee had last Thursday pruned down the aspirants from 23 to 13. On Sunday 13 Governors of the party from the North, who are insisting on power shift further reduced thee number to five in consultation with the National Working Committee, NWC, following directives of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The governors and members of the NWC had on Monday kicked moves to make Senate President Ahmad Lawan the consensus candidate by National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who claimed he did so with thee backing of President Buhari.
The five aspirants were Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Chief Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi).
However, some of the aspirants including Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and seven aspirants kicked against the move.
The primaries started on problematic note. The organisers had huge challenges accrediting Jornalists and delegates. As of 3pm, yesterday, accreditation of Jornalists and delegates was still on.
Access into the Eagle Square venue was also a thug of war as security agents on many occasions tear-gassed Jornalists and delegates including a Vanguard reporter.
The blocking access roads to Eagle Square also caused traffic gridlock in the capital city and made movement tortuous for people in the city that does not have mass transit system or metro.
