-Ikenna Okafor
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) early this morning shortlisted five candidates ahead of its presidential primary election slated for this evening. The party’s candidate would emerge for the 2023 Presidential election after the final screening.
According to reports gathered by VIP magazine, the emergence of the five candidates was as a result of the
meeting between members of Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at the party’s national secretariat last night.
Those who were at the meeting include, the Governors of Borno, Babagana Zulum, Gombe, Mohammad Inuwa Yahaya, Kaduna”s Mallam Nasir El-Rufai Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state, Kano’s Umar Ganduje, Simon Lalong of Plateau state, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state and Sani Bello of Niger state.
The chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, this morning on Channels television said from the list of 13 presidential aspirants cleared by the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led Screening Committee, five aspirants have been shortlisted for the presidential primary election.
The five shortlisted aspirants, according to Lalong, include Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu; Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi; former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; and Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi.
However, reliable sources closer to VIP Magazine revealed some minutes ago that that the five shortlisted aspirants have now been screened to three. According to the sources, the final three include Vice-president Osinbajo, Rotimi Amaechi and Bola Tinubu. They are expected to be presented for consideration by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Meanwhile, the governors, members of the NWC, as well as the Tinubu Campaign Organisation and several other stakeholders are currently engaged in various meetings in a bid for their prefered candidate to emerge as the party’s presidential candidate…
APC Presidential Primary Election: Osinbajo, Tinubu, Amaechi scale final hurdle