Former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo alongside 23 aspirants are challenging to be the flag bearer of the APC presidential candidate.
APC presidential primary election is set to take place at Eagle Square. It will be a three-horse race between former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
The decision by some governors from the North to back power shift to the south means the Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Governors Abubakar Badaru and Yahaya Bello may be technically out. Although, the decision of the governors is not binding on the aspirants.
Although the John Oyegun’s panel that screened the aspirants listed 13 aspirants as top contenders, however, there are only about 5 aspirants with national spread. Namely, Osinbajo, Amaechi, Tinubu, Lawan, Fayemi (who made the list because of his position as Chairman of NGF).
Osinbajo
As the Vice President, Osinbajo’s candidacy ordinarily would appeal to the current administration as some sort of continuity. A candidate to continue some of the works of the current administration.
The Vice President has made continuity the central theme of his campaign, however, the political machinery has been limited as Mr Osinbajo has limited experience in elections.
Although he was very instrumental during the 2019 elections with his visits to markets and his appeal to the young persons, delegate election is obviously a different ball game.
Endorsement by the president would have helped, but as of now, that endorsement is yet to come. His inability to get State governors to openly back his aspiration has not done him much good.
In his State, he is contesting with Ibikunle Amosun. Although, the endorsement of his governor, Dapo Abiodun is reassuring. That endorsement appears to have vexed Tinubu, who was clear in reminding Abiodun how he became governor in 2019.
It would be recalled that two of Tinubu’s associates, Olamilekan Yayi, who currently represents Lagos West in the Senate, won a senatorial ticket in Ogun State and Gbenga Daniel also won a senatorial ticket in the State.
In the Southwest, the Vice President will not be able to clinch a majority of the votes in any of the States. Witho