 President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari has been endorsed by his party national executive committee to seek re-election come next year.
Reuters reported that two senior party sources revealed on Wednesday that the national executive committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party, took the decision after holding a one-day meeting on Tuesday.
One of the sources was quoted by Reuters as saying that “The party made it clear that this endorsement is not an automatic ticket for the president.†The party would still conduct a presidential primary to give other potential candidates a fair playing field.
Last week President Buhari asked his party leadership to give him more time to decide whether or not he will seek re-election in 2019.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has asked President Buhari to quit as he questions his competence to rule Nigeria beyond his current tenure.
Obasanjo in an open letter warned President Buhari against conceiving any idea of seeking re-election.
Last month President Buhari’s special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina is reported to have said in an interview that his boss will not seek re-election without considering his state of health as pressure mounts on him to declare his stance on the issue.
The Nigerian leader has not yet declared his intention to seek re-election or not but his supporters are pushing for him to be re-elected.
Buhari who is 75 years has for the larger part of his presidency been plagued by reports of ill-health forcing him out of the country on some occasions to seek medical attention.
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