Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress are still on the verge of deciding the presidential candidate that would take over from President Muhammadu Buhari.
More facts have emerged from the meeting of the progressives governors forum as they try to pick a consensus candidate ahead of the party’s presidential primary.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari during a meeting with the governors had charged them to allow him to pick his successor.
The APC governors ever since the president stated his mind have met twice, with another meeting expected to hold on Saturday.
It was gathered that the governors in the first meeting discussed having a consensus presidential candidate as suggested by President Buhari.
A source that spoke with Punch said, “Many of them agreed that it is an idea that can be tried.”
The source further stated that the governors during the second meeting spoke on who they should put forward as the APC consensus candidate.
It was gathered that the issue of the region caused disagreement during the second meeting as some suggested a northern governor as the consensus candidate.
The source, however, did not mention the name of the northern governor, but the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and Jigawa State, Mohammed Badaru are in the race.
A South-West governor, Rotimi Akeredolu opposed the idea, saying a governor from the South could be considered.
Governors from the South who are contesting the presidency in 2023 under the ruling party are the Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade; his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi.
The source when asked about the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo and former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu “Most of the argument was centred on a governor succeeding Buhari, for now. But southern governors are talking about power rotation.”
He continued, “When Akeredolu and other southern governors asked them to consider the unity of Nigeria, the northern governors proposed that two governors from the South and North should be considered.”
Some governors believed the southern candidate may not be able to defeat the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election.
