There will be no automatic ticket for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election, Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has said.
The governor made the remark in Abuja while speaking with State House correspondents shortly after meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.
His words: “He has every right and qualification to re-contest, there is nothing wrong at all. But, we don’t allow imposition of candidates. It must be democratically done…
“If President Buhari will lead the ship in 2019, it must be democratically done, and I said, democratically done, transparently (done) to the amazement of the whole world, the way we do our things in APC and people will be happy.”
Speaking on the efforts of the All Progressives Congress to make its effect felt in the South East, Okorocha said modalities had been put in place.
“The South-East, before now was not measuring in APC, but we have worked out strategies and modalities on how to improve relationship between the people of South-East and APC government.
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“That was top of the agenda and the need for Mr President to come to South-East as quickly as possible, to begin to show his presence.
“Luckily, the president will be coming to Ebonyi State, very soon, and he will pass through Imo State to Anambra State.
“So, covering three states within this short time will be right step in the right direction because we have come to realise in the South-East that we are better off in APC than any other party in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
It would be noted that campaign for the 2019 presidential election is gradually beginning.
Only last week, the president hosted the Buhari Support Group (BSG).
Abu Ibrahim who heads the group said 189 groups had endorsed Buhari for 2019.
Majority Leader in the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, said the president must contest for the presidency in 2019.