Credible sources in the presidency said the moves by two of the aspirants and their supporters for the party’s candidate to emerge through consensus have been rejected.
A source around the president said that though nobody could read the president’s body language as to his preferred aspirant, he has told the contenders that they should woo the delegates ahead of the primaries.
“I think the issue of the consensus has been put aside. The aspirants have been advised to woo delegates ahead of the convention. For us to win the general election, we have to carry all members of the party along in the selection of our flag bearer,” he said.
Asked which mode would be adopted, he said, “The preference now is indirect. Recall that the president while rejecting the electoral act raised issues on direct primaries, saying it is cumbersome and expensive. Yes, he used to like it but now his preference is indirect.”
The National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, had recently said the party would pick either of the three options; direct, indirect and consensus to conduct its primaries.