*All eyes on his deputy, Osinbajo
*Muffled buzz on APC’s presidential running mate is now on
*Rufai, Bagudu, Zulum’s names floating as likely VP candidate
President Muhammadu Buhari would be meeting with APC governors again today (Saturday) to discuss the emergence of the ruling party’s presidential flag-bearer in next year’s elections.
Impeccable sources said the meeting could not hold yesterday (Friday) when the president returned from a state visit to Spain, and has now been rescheduled for this evening.
But APC leaders and presidential aspirants would also now be added to the guest list for the consultations which the president had spoken about earlier this week.
According to the president on Tuesday this week, while meeting with APC governors at the Presidential Villa, “I wish to assure you that the consultation process shall continue to ensure that all aspirants and stakeholders would be brought on board right through to the convention.
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“This would also ensure that any anxiety occasioned by different factors are effectively brought under control and that our party emerges stronger.”
Sources close to a number of the aspirants confirmed that there are high expectations that the dinner event today was one of such consultations and also where the president will request support for his choice.
“Mr. President will simply appeal to the audience at the meeting tonight to support his choice and seek that the party converge ahead of Monday’s presidential primaries,” said a top APC NWC source this morning.
The source added that “as things stand today and right now, most of the stakeholders have realised that the president is rooting for his Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; and agreement with the president is on the rise with very limited feeble opposition for the idea left.”
Also, three names of APC Governors are buzzing in critical party circles as the party’s presidential running mate(s), one of whom could easily emerge next week or soon after.
Osinbajo’s potential running mates are Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Kebbi Governor Atiku Bagudu and Borno Governor Babagana Zulum.
It would also be recalled that the President had said that as he begins “the final year of my second term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and leader of the Party, I recognise the compelling need for me to provide stronger leadership to the Party under this transition process and to ensure that it happens in an orderly manner.
“Such leadership is required so that the Party remains strong and united. It is also needed to improve our electoral fortunes by ensuring that it retains power at the centre, hold the great majority in various legislative chambers and also gain additional number of states at state levels.
“In pursuit of the foregoing objectives, the Party has successfully established internal policies that promote continuity and smooth succession plans even at the state and local government levels. For example, first term Governors who have served credibly well have been encouraged to stand for re-election. Similarly, second term Governors have been accorded the privilege of promoting successors that are capable of driving their visions as well as the ideals of the party.
“In a few days, the Party will be holding its Convention during which primaries would take place to pick the Presidential flag-bearer for the 2023 General Elections. This is a very significant process and its outcome should prove to the world, the positive quality of the APC regarding democratic principles, culture as well as leadership.
“As we approach the Convention, I appeal to all of you to allow our interests to converge, our focus to remain on the changing dynamics of our environment, the expectations of our citizens and the global community. Our objective must be the victory of our party and our choice of candidate must be someone who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the elections.
“In keeping with the established internal policies of the Party and as we approach the Convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the Governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.”