ROAD TO 2023 ELECTION

 Presidential Race 2023

“I have no ‘son’ grown enough to declare” was the sub from one of the APC presidential aspirants, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Though many of us are not ‘sons’, it hits us; but the good side for us is that many of us are old enough to vote. The question is, have we made ourselves ‘equipped’ to vote?

Get ready! 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections will hold 25th February, 2023; and gubernatorial and State Assembly elections will hold 11th March, 2023.

Mr. Vice-president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo whom the sub was directed to, declared his intention to run for president under APC, which spurred rumblings of disloyalty from people. Was it really a case of disloyalty?

Well, Jagaban (Tinubu) who is believed to control Lagos was likely expected to be the only candidate from Lagos to declare, but the Vice-president whose membership was also under Lagos APC has declared. Does this result to disloyalty? But he (VP) has moved his membership to Ogun State APC.

There is more, Bola Tinubu and Yemi Osinbajo have a history before this present administration of Buhari. In 1999, when Tinubu became the governor of Lagos State, Osinbajo was made Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice in Tinubu’s cabinet; and held this position throughout Tinubu’s first and second tenure as Lagos State governor (1999-2007).

What effrontery?! Calm down. Does it really mean as a result of past appointment of Osinbajo under Tinubu’s governorship, Osinbajo cannot declare his intentions to run for president? Has there been relationship of god-father–god-son between them?

Well, APC would know how best to run their drama.

The drama should lessen by end of June as June is the deadline given by INEC for parties to submit nomination forms.

Other APC aspirants for the office of the president are: Rotimi Amaechi (Nigeria Minister of Transportation and former Governor of Rivers State); Dave Umahi (governor of Ebonyi State); Yahaya Bello (governor of Kogi State – youngest governor; youngest APC/PDP presidential aspirant); Rochas Okorocha (former governor of Imo State and a current Senator).

In January, Buhari actually said he has a ‘preferred candidate’, though he did not reveal the name.

It appears APC presidential ticket has been zoned, yes! It has been zoned to the South; but PDP is yet to take a stand whether to zone (as it has been for them) or let the ‘best candidate’ emerge from any part of Nigeria.

If PDP is to go with zoning, it is likely going to be to the South, as it is meant to be rotated, and the flag bearer for the last election was from the North - former Vice-president Mr. Abubakar Atiku.

Zoning to the South for PDP primaries would surely face contentions as Abubakar Atiku and Bukola Saraki (former Senate president) have both bought nomination forms for the party ticket.

Other PDP presidential aspirants include: Pius Anyim Pius (former Secretary to the Government of the Federation); Peter Obi (former Governor of Anambra State); Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa; Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze; Ayo Fayose (former Ekiti State governor); Cosmos Chukwudi Ndukwe and others. 

Amongst many who have declared their intentions to run for president, we have the first and only female so far, Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi; with the ‘hope restoration’ promise. She is 38 years old, from Lagos State, a media personality, founder of Slice Media Solutions also the daughter of former Federation Commissioner of Works and Housing, Lateef Olufemi Okunnu (SAN).

She is yet to join any political party, as she is still looking to join the political party that ‘fits into her vision’.

For Oyo State gubernatorial election, what would be the fate of Governor Seyi Makinde?

Let us prayerfully look forward to these elections and make sure we are ‘equipped’ enough to vote.