Farouk Aliyu, who chairs the All Progressives Congress (APC) screening committee for governorship and National Assembly aspirants, has clarified that the adoption of a consensus candidate does not preclude other individuals from vying for positions. Speaking on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ on Monday, Aliyu emphasized that if disagreements arise over the consensus choice, the party will resort to direct primaries to ensure fairness.
According to Aliyu, the notion of a consensus candidate is not meant to exclude anyone. He stated, “The idea of a consensus candidate does not preclude anyone else from running. Nobody will be excluded.” He elaborated that while governors may have preferred candidates in states like Nasarawa, Lagos, and Gombe, other aspirants remain free to contest. “The governor is just one person, and some stakeholders have agreed that Mr. A is our preferred candidate. If other contestants do not agree with that, certainly direct primaries will be implemented,” he added.
Aliyu reassured that no aspirant will be barred from participating, stressing that the party is committed to democratic processes. His comments come amid concerns about consensus arrangements potentially sidelining candidates in the build-up to the 2027 elections.