Buhari: Why I’ll seek re-election How Oyegun, others got waivers

President Muhammadu Buhari’s announcement to run for reelection yesterday may end up making him the sole candidate of the ruling APC, top party sources hinted yesterday.

President Buhari revealed his intention to run again at the closeddoor meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

He said he wanted to seek reelection in response to the clamour by Nigerians for him to do so.

He also told the party’s NEC that he wanted to give them the honour to notify them ambition.

The president had previously declined to say whether or not he first, of his second term

would run for re-election. His response or that of his aides had always been that to do so would disrupt the polity.

Presidential spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, last month told State House correspondents that it was too early for Buhari to declare his intention for the 2019 presidential poll.

Adesina had, at that time, said that any declaration by the president one year to the elections, would give the opposition one year to sabotage Nigeria politically, socially and economically.

Buhari announced his second term bid in the presence of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, APC Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun and the National Working Committee of the party as well as governors and state chairmen of the party.