By Jide Ajani
LAGOS—THE Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has begun talks with General Muhammadu Buhari and his political party, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC.

Vanguard learnt that the talks was with a view to engaging a working alliance for the purpose of confronting the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the polls for next year’s general elections.

Vanguard can also reveal that the presidential ticket of the ACN may likely become a three-way ticket.

Should the on-going talks yield positive results, General Buhari would be one of the legs.
Already, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is reported to be gaining incremental candidacy on the platform of the ACN.

Then there is the emerging possibility that Dr. Usman Bugaje, former Vice Presidential Adviser; former member, House of Representatives; and National Secretary of the party, may become the party’s presidential candidate.

Vanguard was informed that “negotiations for Buhari’s possible working relationship with the ACN is not being handled by the party hierarchy.”

A very competent source said: “The negotiations going on with General Buhari is not being handled by the party hierarchy. It is a committee which the party set up that is handling the negotiations and it is on-going, on the side. I can confirm to you that the talks are on.”

Bugaje on the cards

As for Dr. Bugaje, Vanguard was made to understand that “our national secretary is also on the cards.”

The source said: “In fact, people have been discussing it and they have been piling pressures on him, too, to come out and seek the presidential ticket of our party. I think he is also in talks with some people and anything can come out of it.

“At the end of the day, our party would present a very credible presidential candidate to confront the PDP, whoever they bring as their candidate.”

The committee of the ACN, which is handling the talks with Buhari has a state governor on board.

The talks are said to be centred on the need for the retired General to come on board the ACN platform, since registration of another political party for next year’s general elections is virtually impossible now.

Details of the talks, Vanguard was hinted, remain very confidential but ACN leaders believe that at the end of the day, something positive would come out for the benefit of Nigerians.