A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State, Mr Austin Febo, has urged the party not to shut out other presidential aspirants because of President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration to seek re-election in 2019.

Febo who made the call on Monday shortly after the president’s declaration said it was good and welcomed as it had ended speculations on the issue.

Buhari announced his intention to seek a second term at a closed-door meeting of National Executive Committee of the party today in Abuja.

Febo, who was a governorship aspirant in Bayelsa in 2015, said it is expected that the president will like to complete the projects before him.

He said,

“However, his declaration should not close the door for some people who will like to contest the position of the president on APC platform in 2019. It is good that the APC keeps its doors open as this will be a demonstration of democracy at work.

“It will also provide a level-playing ground as much as promote stability of the party. There are people who may want to test their popularity; so, the declaration should not shut them out.

“Let the party conduct its primaries in spite of this declaration by the president to seek re-election because this will foster fairness and create room for fairness.’’

NAN