Malam Saliu Mustapha, a frontline aspirant for the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairmanship position, has said that his major priority is to keep the party in power beyond 2023 if elected.
According to a statement issued by Mr Dapo Okubanjo, Head of his Media Office on Sunday in Abuja, the aspirant said this at a meeting with APC and social media influencers.
He said he would tap into his network and goodwill to achieve his desire.
He added that he would rally a vast majority of Nigerian youths to support the APC ahead of the 2023 general elections and beyond if he is elected as the party’s next national chairman at its forthcoming national convention.
Mustapha, former Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), said his greatest priority as APC national chairman would be achieving an overwhelming win for the party in 2023 general elections.
“And this we plan to do by building on what we have as well as bringing in new ways of doing things to continue the party’s winning streak.
“An extra advantage would be my ability to mobilise youths within the party’s vote banks across the country. If we are able to achieve this, the sky itself will be the starting point for the party,” Mustapha added.
He commended APC social media influencers for what he described as their struggles and sacrifices for the party over the years and assured them of a different approach to their welfare when elected as the party’s next national chairman.
He called for the support and partnership of the media, especially APC social media influencers, adding that their support is critical to his success if he is voted as the party’s next national chairman.
The aspirant promised to do things differently, vowing that he will keep his promises.
“But I cannot achieve this without your support, that’s why I welcome this level of partnership. I will do all my best to sustain it.
“The new media will have a pride of place in the party secretariat with me at the helm of affairs so that we won’t have to be running from pillar to post at the approach of every election cycle,” he said.
The statement quoted Mr Olusegun Dada, one of the social media influencers and one of APC’s youth leaders, as saying that Mustapha is a real bridge builder.
He commended the aspirant for his foresight and doggedness, and urged him to take his aspiration to a logical conclusion.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved February 2022 as the month for the conduct of the APC National Convention to elect National Working Committee (NWC) members to manage the party’s affairs, currently being managed by the Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).