President Muhammadu Buhari says leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) will sustain the hearing and healing process that it started to ensure fairness, justice and oneness before the 2023 general elections.
He stated this in an audience with some APC senators on the outcome of the party primaries and its implications, at the state House Abuja.
The President noted that complaints were received by some members, and machinery had been put in place by the National Working Committee to address their various concerns.
He said in keeping with their ethos, therefore, he shall continue to address the ensuing challenges and grievances through the party machinery while paying keen attention to the outcomes.
He reminded them of the primacy of justice in all their actions, stressing that if justice is denied, the outcome is usually unpleasant.
President Buhari told the APC senators that the strength and victory of the party in the election will depend on unity of members and ability to prevent injustices or heal them, perceived or real.
He said as the leader of the party, one of his primary roles is to ensure that the party culture of internal democracy and dispute resolution is strengthened by creating the opportunity for members to ventilate their opinions, views and grievances at different levels.
The President urged party members to exercise restraint and continue to demonstrate commitment to the ideals, while the leadership continues to build and develop the APC and the country.
President Buhari said he had noted the sanators grievances particularly as it concerns the just concluded processes, the cost to the nation, the threat to the majority position held by APC in the legislative chambers and likely consequent cost to the electoral fortunes of their party as they approach the general elections, while maintaining that they must not allow these dire threats to come to pass.
The President assured that “justice shall prevail, aggrieved members shall be assuaged and the interest of the party and the nation shall be protected.’’
President Buhari thanked the senators for suggesting a meeting on the issues, which include the future of the party and pursuing solutions to the challenges thrown up by the recent election related activities, particularly, the primaries.
In his remarks, leader of the delegation, Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, said at least 22 senators and members of the party were unhappy with the outcome of the primaries in their states, noting that they felt disenfranchised by the process.
He said the legislators had made sacrifices for the growth of the party and democracy in the country, asking for the President’s kind intervention.
BELLO WAKILI