2023 Presidency: Tinubu Should Be Consensus Candidate For APC Primary, Sanwo-Olu, Ganduje, Oyetola Insist

Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to the frontline presidential aspirant of the ruling party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have rejected the idea of a northern consensus candidate ahead of the presidential primary slated to hold next week Monday.

The governors are sharply divided over the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari, asking that he should be allowed to pick his successor through a consensus arrangement.

The pro-Tinubu governors are led by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Abdullahi Ganduje, Gboyega Oyetola, Babagana Zulum.

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Credible Presidency sources hinted that the President is desirous of having his deputy, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, succeed him even though he is yet to formally announce his choice.

However, some power brokers in the ruling party who felt that no Southern candidate can match Atiku Abubakar, who has emerged as the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), are pushing for a Northern candidate in order to split the votes from the North.

They are, therefore, proposing Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru.

Sources in the party informed disclosed that the governors loyal to Tinubu had vehemently kicked against the proposal for a Northern presidential candidate, saying that if the party insists on a consensus candidate, it must be Tinubu.

“The meeting of the governors at the Asokoro residence of the Chairman of Progressives Governors’ Forum and Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, held yesterday ended in a deadlock as they failed to reach a consensus”.

“Tinubu’s loyalists are of the view that President Buhari has the right to choose his preferred aspirant but he should allow a primary where other aspirants can test their popularity. Nobody should be asked to step down against their wish.

“They are also of the view that if the party insists on fielding a consensus candidate, then that candidate must be Tinubu as he is the only one with the clout to defeat a strong politician like Atiku.

“They also faulted the claim by some of their colleagues that no Southerner can defeat Atiku, saying Tinubu enjoys the same popularity like the late MKO Abiola who defeated the late Bashir Tofa in his home state of Kano and won the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election”.