Barely a month after the conclusion of the 2019 general election, the battle on who succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari has began.
Mr Buhari who emerged winner of this year’s presidential race is expected to begin his second term on May 29. The All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate trounced Atiku Abubakar, who ran on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with over 4million votes to actualize his second term political ambition.
Prior to the election, allies of the president in a confusing manner promised two geo-political zones that should they re-elect their principal, he was going to handle over to them after exhausting his tenure which winds down in 2023.
The APC is expected to zone its presidential ticket to the South, but some APC chieftains from the North are of the opinion that the region did not undertake an agreement to cede power to the South.
The South East and the South West are those to be favoured should the ruling party decides to zone its ticket to the South.
Although there are indications that the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo and Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the APC are top contenders from the South West, these men have not officially made known their interest.
In the South East, although Rochas Okorocha, the outgoing governor of Imo State has not officially declared, he is also expected to join the race after stepping down for Buhari during the party’s primary in 2014.
However, a new twist has been added with the declaration of Joe Igbokwe, the Publicity Secretary of the party in Lagos State.
Mr Igbokwe is an ally of Mr Tinubu and hails from Anambra State. The state is ruled by the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).
The APC chieftain declared to contest for the position on Saturday afternoon. He made this known in a facebook post on his timeline.
Igbokwe whose party’s presence in the Igbo predominantly area is not being felt said it is only God who could make him back down from the presidential race.
“YOUR PRESIDENT AND YOUR FIRST LADY IN 2023. IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW. ONLY GOD CAN STOP ME. IGBO ARE NO STRANGERS IN NIGERIA. NIGERIANS CAN MAKE A COMPROMISE FOR THE SAKE OF NATIONAL UNITY. I HAVE A VISION FOR NIGERIA,” the facebook update which had an attached photo of him and his wife read.
