Despite a cacophony of voices clamouring for Southern presidency in 2023, Senate president Ahmad Lawan has been announced as the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus presidential candidate, an announcement that has divided opinions within the ruling party.
The New Diplomat in its riveting analysis had earlier hinted that Lawan is a dark horse in the presidential race who could shock the pack of aspirants from the South, especially as the north is desperate to cling on to power again in 2023 after over seven turbulent years.
The Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullah Adamu Adamu, announced Lawan’s choice at the meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, on Monday, in Abuja.
But some members of the NWC, are currently fighting the move as reports informed that they insisted that other presidential aspirants which include Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Engr. David Umahi must be allowed to contest the primary election at tomorrow’s convention scheduled at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
Adamu’s adoption of Lawan as consensus candidate is said to be against the position of 11 APC nothern governors who endorsed that power must shift to the South after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
Adamu claimed to the NWC that he arrived at the choice of Lawan after consultation with President Buhari.
However, some APC northern governors raced to Aso Villa and currently meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, in a reaction to the move.
President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier commenced a meeting with northern governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the convention where the party’s presidential candidate for next year’s poll will be elected starts today with accreditation of delegates.
The meeting is being attended by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State; and the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau.
Others are Governors Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna, Babagana Zulum, Borno, Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa, Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya, Gombe, Mai Mala Buni, Yobe, Abubakar Sani Bello, Niger, Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano, and Aminu Bello Masari, Katsina, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, Jigawa, and Abdurrahman Abdulrazaq, Kwara.
Only Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State is yet to arrive as of the time of filing this report.
The president has been pushing for the possibility of a consensus candidate among the 23 presidential aspirants.
This is the president’s fourth meeting with stakeholders in less than one week in order to ensure a rancour-free presidential primary election which formally holds on Tuesday.
President Buhari had before his trip to Madrid, Spain last Tuesday met with the 22 governors of the APC and told them that he needed their support in choosing his successor.
He said the choice of the party’s presidential candidate must be “someone who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the elections.”
