From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress APC has appointed Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State to lead its presidential campaign for next year’s election.
National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu, revealed this to State House Correspondents after he led the presidential candidate of the APC Bola Tinubu and the running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima to the see President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday.
He also announced that Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has been appointed as interim spokesperson for the presidential campaign council.
On how the party arrived at the choice of Lalong as campaign DG, Adamu said it was based on his ability to deliver.
“He has the ability to do it. The party leadership has seen that he his capable of running the affairs of the campaign outfit,” he noted.
He described the Muslim-Muslim ticket as a positive development for the country’s politics and said the dust it raised would be settled before the election.
Tinubu had in early July announced Shettima as his running mate. The announcement elicted harsh criticisms nationwide.
On his part, Shettima claimed that the same-faith arguments were machinations of a petrified opposition.
Citing the Ribadu-Bafarawa presidential ticket of the Action Congress of Nigerian (ACN) in the 2011 general elections, Shettima urged Nigerians to focus on issues and not the faith of the candidates.
“We will not trade in insults, lies and mischief. We have established a track record of excellence. Let our opponents show what they have done in their respective states. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s discuss issues.
“How to propel this nation to greatness is much more important than playing on the sentiments of Nigerians. Poverty knows no religion or ethnicity. Insecurity knows no religion or ethnicity.”
Lalong argued that the party chose him because of his ability and not as a “Christian candidate.”
“I’m not a Christian candidate. I was not nominated as a Christian candidate. The party said I’ve been nominated because of my ability. I’ve been a very loyal member of the party. I joined APC because I believe in APC.”