"That's the main reason there has not been a consensus candidate."
"At the end of the process, I will be the consensus candidate," he said.
He declined to say what the federation would do if no consensus candidate emerged.
In 2008, he ran for the presidential elections and was considered to be possible consensus candidate.
The final vote came despite calls from the Western world for a consensus candidate.
The fact that no obvious consensus candidate has emerged is the latest evidence of the difficult situation the party finds itself after the election.
The system is so designed as to promote consensus Presidential candidates among the main political parties.
And several black leaders tried to clear the field to help a consensus black candidate win.
"He wanted the board to find a consensus candidate and to have a careful, deliberative process."
In the meantime, her supporters note that Republicans have yet to produce a consensus candidate.