Buhari, 11 Northern governors back power shift to South. Ebonyi, Jigawa govs back out of presidential race. Dollar rain as Tinubu, Osinbajo, Amaechi, others in last minute make or mar match for delegates
Serious horse-trading and backstabbing have begun in Abuja as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) picks presidential candidate today.
Platforms Africa reports that the last 24 hours have been full of drama and last minutes make or mar match by aspirants, the President and the party leadership.
Starting with the dust raised by the outburst by the national leader of the APC, Ahmed Tinubu, in Abeokuta, the party, which hitherto hinted at the disqualification of 10 aspirants made a u-turn and said through its chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, that all its 23 aspirants are cleared to contest.
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11 Northern governors have also, in the last 24 hours, backed the power shift to the South, a decision President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly consented to.
The governors of Ebonyi state, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, and his Jigawa state counterpart, Governor Muhammed Badaru, have also backed out of presidential race. While Umahi reoortedly said that he backed out to support Ahmed Lawan, it was not clear at the time of this report the real reason the Jigawa state governor throw in the towel.
Dollar rain expected as Tinubu, Osinbajo, Amaechi, others enter last minute lobbying of delegates.
Meanwhile, Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), have hailed the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors in Northern Nigeria that Presidency should go to South come 2023.
Platforms Africa earlier reported that the APC Northern governors had held that no Northern aspirant should contest the coming primary election with the Southern aspirants and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to look toward the southern presidential hopefuls when considering his successor.
They particularly asked Buhari to limit his search for APC’s presidential candidate to the South.
Governor Akeredolu, who is Chairman of South West Governors Forum, hailed his counterparts in Northern Nigeria for the historical decision.
In his reaction, Keyamo said: “A truly national Party has come to stay. Whilst others hope to cash in on ethnic sentiments to win AT ALL COST, the Northern APC Govs have displayed statesmanship & commitment to the Nigerian Project.
“Take note: this is one of the most pivotal moments in the history of Nigeria!”
