by Isi Esene

The African Peoples Alliance (APA) has come all out to express their displeasure over the omission of its Presidential candidate, Adebayo Musa Ayeni, from the list of candidates contesting in the February 2015 elections.

In a release titled ‘Misrepresentation of presidential candidates for the 2015 Nigeria’s general election’, the party said there are more than 11 candidates contesting for Nigeria’s presidency.

The statement which was signed by Olusola Richards, the Party’s media consultant, states that “we wish to state categorically that there are 13 candidates contesting for Nigeria’s presidency. The African Peoples Alliance (APA) has Alhaji Adebayo Musa Ayeni its Presidential candidate and Balarabe Ahmad as its Vice Presidential candidate. Both names we omitted in your reports.

“We request that this oversight be corrected and the corrected list reported to Nigerians.”

Ayeni who emerged the Party’s candidate last December is hinging his campaign on a promise to banish corruption and promote agriculture.

In his acceptance speech after emerging the APA consensus candidate, the former Ondo state Deputy Governor said, “I will tackle corruption, redirect the agricultural focus of the PDP government to involve the local people and stimulate more production of agricultural produce for local consumption and for export, among others.”

It is not clear how the Party’s flagbearer was sidestepped on the list of presidential candidates but below is the list officially released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC):

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Presidential Candidate – President Goodluck Jonathan
Running Mate – Vice-President Namadi Sambo

All Progressives Congress (APC)
Presidential Candidate – General Muhammadu Buhari
Running Mate – Prof. Yemi Osinbajo

Kowa Party
Presidential Candidate – Prof. Comfort Oluremi Sonaiya
Running Mate – Saidu Bobboi

Hope Democratic Party
Presidential Candidate – Ambrose Albert
Running Mate – Haruna Shaba

Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN)
Presidential Candidate – Ganiyu Galadima
Running Mate – Balarabe Ahmed

Alliance for Democracy (AD)
Presidential Candidate – Rafiu Salau
Running Mate – Prof. Clinton Cliff Akuchie

United Democratic Party
Presidential Candidate – Godson Okoye
Running Mate – Haruna Adamu

African Democratic Congress
Presidential Candidate – Dr. Nani Ibrahim Ahmad
Running Mate – Obianuju Murphy-Uzohue

National Conscience Party (NCP)
Presidential Candidate – Martin Onovo
Running Mate – Ibrahim Mohammed

Action Alliance
Presidential Candidate – Tunde Anifowoshe-Kelani
Running Mate – Comrade Paul Ishaka Ofomile

United Progressive Party
Presidential Candidate – Chekwas Okorie
Running Mate – Bello Umar.

 

So, we ask: who is afraid of the African Alliance Party?