Bayo Onanuga, the Director of Media and Publicity for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), has responded to the meeting between the party’s flagbearer, Bola Tinubu, and governors elected on the party’s platform.
The meeting, which began Monday night and ended in the early hours of Tuesday, was held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Onanuga told The Punch on Tuesday night that the meeting was called to review the presidential campaign council’s activities ahead of the presidential election.
He said:
Yes, our candidate met with the APC governors. It was a meeting to review campaign activities but that is all. I can’t say more than that because it is not for public consumption.
Also speaking, a party chieftain present at the meeting said the council resolved to give adequate funding to the campaign activities as the party enters the final stage of the campaign.
He said:
We are entering the final stage of the campaign which calls for more robust funding. This is the time for mobilisation of all registered and genuine support groups going round the country to mobilise Nigerians for our candidate and his running mate.
They need to travel more than before because the candidate intends to cover all states of the federation and he is to be joined by the party faithful including some of these support groups.
More supporters are joining the Tinubu/Shettima campaign train daily. The financial implication of all this is left to the imagination.
Another source told The Punch that the absence of some key party leaders from the campaign rallies was also a concern during the meeting.
He said;
This is not really a problem, but it was agreed that as party leaders, it sends the right message if we are all present to always lend support to the party.
Yes, this may not be possible all the time due to unforeseen circumstances. Generally, all party leaders and stakeholders were enjoined to stand by the party and identify with its programmes.
The APC chieftain added that it was agreed at the meeting that the party’s campaigns could get better, but would not adopt fresh strategies.
He said;
The APC runs the best campaign. Wherever we go, the reception is always out of this world. But we agree with ourselves that it can always get better.
’What is important is the commitment of the candidate to deliver on his promises. Unlike other candidates who have nothing to offer, Nigerians know the Jagaban. His history of success as a twice-elected governor of Lagos state is not debatable. His commitment to the well-being of Nigerians is evident in what God has used him to do for many years now. So, we shall go to the remaining states with renewed energy as we have always done.