Southern aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have been given the go ahead to jostle for the party’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 general election.
This is even as President Muhammadu Buhari announced his support for a power shift to the South in 2023.
In a meeting with presidential aspirants of the APC on Saturday night in Abuja, the President said it was only proper for the party to present a Southern candidate for the presidential contest.
Prior to President Buhari’s endorsement of a Southern candidate, 11 Northern governors of the APC and other leaders also announced their support for the ruling party to field a candidate from the South.
The Northern governors and leaders further instructed aspirants from the North to withdraw from the contest with immediate effect.
The decision led to Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Jigawa State, and Senator Sani Yettima announcing their withdrawal from the APC presidential race.
President Buhari in his brief address said;
“I don’t have a consensus candidate, all of you are special. Go To The Field. I will support any Southern aspirant that wins the presidential primary election.”
Meanwhile, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State also withdrew from the contest, but declared his support for Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, who is a Northerner.
Leading aspirants from the South jostling for the APC presidential ticket include Alhaji Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, former Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, and former Education Minister, Nwajiuba Chukwuemeka.
Others are Governor Fayemi Kayode of Ekiti State, Godswill Akpabio, Jack-Rich Tein and John Onu.
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