*Ganduje, Bagudu, El’rufai in race for VP slot
By Agu Nzeh
It has been revealed, why Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the North, have mobilized against the choice of Senate President, Ahmed Lawan as the party’s consensus candidate ahead of the 2023 general election
The Northern Governors have joined hands, even as they are fighting an individual race for the vice presidential slot of the party, to resist all manoeuvres from the APC national chairman, senator Adamu Abdulahi and presidency cabal to install Lawan as the consensus candidate of the APC
An APC chairman in one of the Northern states, also disclosed to our correspondent that the northern governors of the All Progressives Congress APC have not been able to adopt an aspirant from the South to stand in for endorsement as Candidate of the party in response to the demand made to them by President Mohammadu Buhari.
The state chairman, who would not want to mentioned, said the individual interest of the Governors have pushed a wedge in the demand made by the President for the Governors to narrow the number of aspirants, but were eager to recommend Southern presidential aspirants candidate who are in league with them for a Vice Presidential slot.
The source said that most of the northern Governors pushing for power rotation to the south may not be doing so for any nationalistic reason, but in furtherance of their individual person ambition.
According to the state APC chairman, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is said to have promised Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano State the VP slot, while Kayode Fayemi as learnt, is working closely with Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to pair as running mate.
The same is also claimed for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who is said to be working with Atiku Bagudu, Kebbi State governor and Chairman of the APC Governors Forum, PGF.
He also revealed that Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum is believed to be sparing for Ibikunle Amosun.
In line with the working accord, the prospective Vice Presidential aspirants are said to be securely holding their state delegates for the presidential aspirants who are in talks with them, with promises of giving them the Vice Presidential tickets.
“You can see why they can’t settle for any one of them. You can also see why they narrowed the choice to just five aspirants and why about seven aspirants have rejected the shortlist. It is all selfish game that has kept the party at a standstill for weeks”. He said
Our source also disclosed that delegates list are being doctored and changed at state and national levels especially in the South West ahead of the voting Tuesday night.
As at Press time it was learnt VP is firm control of Ogun and Ondo delegates while Kayode Fayemi holds tight to Ekiti delegates . Lagos and Osun goes to Asiwaju Tinubu. Oyo is said to be between Tinubu and Osinbajo.
