President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed why he made an early declaration to contest the presidential election in 2019.

In a statement on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, he explained that he took the step to douse rising speculations and give the All Progressives Congress (APC) enough time to prepare for the poll.

“I had to announce before the National Executive Committee of our party, my intention to ask for the party’s nomination for next year’s election so that we can save a lot of time and cool tempers,” said the President when he received members of the Buhari Support Group Centre (BSGC) at the State House in Abuja.

“A lot of people were trying to make it a habit of being a nuisance to themselves and many Nigerians, so when I came out, I said those who are serious let them come out.

“And I tried to make sure that the party is organised and consolidated so that we start from the bottom to the top, and that Nigerians will be involved in a way that each constituency will pick those that are going to represent them at various levels, whether as local government chairmen, in the State Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and finally the president,” he added.

President Buhari said he noticed that speculations were already constituting a distraction to governance and stirring tensions, stressing that he had to declare during the National Executive Committee meeting of the party.

He noted that early declaration guaranteed more participation and inclusivity within the party, and further strengthened the bond with supporters and Nigerians.

President Buhari further advised Nigerians to get their voter’s cards for the 2019 elections and ensure that they vote to please their conscience with pride as citizens.

•Excerpted from Channels TV report