Amid speculations and intrigues ahead the presidential primary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhamamdu Buhari has met with APC presidential aspirants behind closed-doors.

The President Muhamamdu Buhari urged all the presidential aspirants on the platform of the APC to consult among themselves, build consensus and produce a formidable candidate for the party.

The President met the candidates at a State House dinner in Abuja on Saturday.

According a presidential spokesman, President said, “I wish to remind you that our choice of flag bearer must be formidable, appealing to the electorate across the board and should command such ability to unify the country and capacity to address our critical challenges”, Femi Adesina quoted the President.

He added, “Ahead of the Convention, the party machinery has screened and found all aspirants eminently qualified. Recognizing this fact, the Screening Committee has, amongst others, recommended that consensus building through consultation, be intensified.

“Without prejudice to your qualifications, I urge all of you to hold consultations amongst yourselves and with the party, with a view to building a consensus in a manner that would help the party reduce the number of aspirants, bring up a formidable candidate and scale down the anxiety of party members.”

The President spokesman in a statement noted that the President said the meeting was a continuation of the on-going consultative process aimed at ensuring a smooth and strategic emergence of a standard bearer, who will lead the APC to a resounding victory in the upcoming presidential polls.

“Looking at this assemblage of personalities and considering your rich pedigree of accomplishments in life, I have come to the conclusion that our party, the APC, is rich in human resources and also that our nation is blessed with capable people that can successfully steer the ship of state into the future,” President Buhari said.