President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, accepted the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from a group, Nigerian Consolidation Ambassadors Network, which donated the forms worth N45m to him to support his bid for re-election next year.
At an event marking the handover and acceptance of the forms in the Presidential Villa, Buhari lashed out at defectors from the APC, describing them as weak and selfish politicians.
He said, “I am honoured today to receive youths from all over the country contributing to buy the form for me.
“The weakest whose sense of expectation do not align with our vision have exited our party.”
He said following the exit of the defectors from the party, “We now have a party of strong and patriotic people who are ready to work for a strong Nigeria.”
Buhari had in April this year declared his interest for a second term in office.
Buoyed by this, a pro-Buhari group, Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network, had on September 5, while Buhari was attending the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit in Beijing, China, purchased the N45m worth of forms for the President.
The forms were presented to the President by representatives of the group, comprising the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Farouk Adamu Aliyu; the Deputy Chairman of the BoT, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba; the National Coordinator of the group, Sunusi Musa; the six zonal coordinators, and three special representatives.
Buhari received the forms from the group at 12pm on Tuesday with some of his top aides, including the Minister of Transportation and Director-General of the President’s campaign organisation, Rotimi Amaechi, in attendance.
Others present included, Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Accepting the forms on Tuesday, Buhari expressed his delight for being honoured by the group said to be made up of youths from different parts of the country.
