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Controversies have continued to trail the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) list released by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) last weekend.
While some Governors under the aegis of the Progressive Governor’s Forum have accused the party of disregarding their nominations, the party has defended the inclusion of an opposition senator.
The Director of Media for the PCC, Bayo Onanuga, said on Monday in Abuja, that the inclusion of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani who was elected to represent Enugu East Senatorial District under the platform of the Peoples democratic Party (PDP), in the 42-member list was deliberate.
Some had argued that the intended person was a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, a member of the ruling party, but Onanuga clarified that Chimaroke had earned spot as a close ally and personal friend of the APC presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The PCC will also want to clarify that the appearance of the name of HE Chimaroke Nnamani, a distinguished senator from Enugu State, was not a mistake. He is on the list in his own right as a supporter of our presidential candidate,” the media director said in a statement.
He added that while Nnamani may not be on the field, his presence can serve as ‘moral support’ to Tinubu, which is part of his fundamental human right and supersedes any provision in a Party Constitution.
“His position and allegiance to his party is self-defining and does not need any qualifying by us,” he added.
Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC Felix Morka, told Channels TV that Tinubu enjoys support beyond the APC and the cross-party alignment was not unusual, stressing that the presidential campaign was not necessarily about party membership.
“People who believe in the candidate are very free to work for the candidate that they support. Our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a candidate that enjoys widespread multi-partisan support.
“The support for our candidate is not limited to APC members only; he enjoys support from others who know him and who trust in his ability to deliver,”Morka said.
Meanwhile, the party has announced that the inauguration of its 422- member Presidential Campaign Council, will hold on Wednesday, September 28, same day for scheduled for the official commencement of the president election campaigns.n
“Nominated members are expected to participate in the special prayer sessions marking the commencement of the 2023 presidential election campaigns,” Onanuga said.
The party would also stage a peace walk after the prayers, and all nominees would be issued their letters of appointment on the same day.