North retains presidency as APC makes Lawan consensus candidate

The informal rotation of the handle of power between the northern and southern parts of the country may have finally phased out with the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari who will now be succeeded by compatriot Fulani president.

The announcement by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) that it has chosen the incumbent Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, as consensus candidate has now narrowed the contest for the 2023 polls to two northern candidates dominating the the two biggest political parties in the country.

The Peoples Democratic Party had earlier ceded its presidential ticket to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who is a northern Muslim that decamped to APC and campaigned for Buhari in the 2015 polls.

Other disruptive factor in the contest would remain mr Peter Obi who decamped from the Peoples Demnocratic Party to for a very credible third option to the two main parties perceived among the populace to have failed the country.

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adamu declared on Monday while President Muhammadu Buhari consulted with nothern governors of the ruling the party Senate President Ahmed Lawan is the consensus candidate of the party.

The Nation Newspaper owned by Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu reported that Adamu made the announcement at the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) on Monday in Abuja.

According to the re;port, other aspirants including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Dr Kayode Fayemi and David Umahi, among others will, however, be allowed to contest the primary at the convention holding tomorrow at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

Meanwhile, Buhari’s meeting is coming just hours ahead of the APC’s presidential convention, which is scheduled to take off today at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

Although there was no official note to the reason for the meeting with the Governors, it was suggested it may not be unconnected with preparations towards assuring a successful convention and narrowing down on who takes the flag of the party tomorrow.

It is the fourth meeting between the President and party stakeholders in relation to the primary.

Aside from his meeting with APC Governors last Tuesday, Buhari has met with the party’s presidential aspirants where he urged them to consult and pick a formidable candidate from among themselves.

On Sunday night, the President also hosted members of the National Advisory Council to a close door meeting.

Those in attendance are Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi); chairman of Northern Governors Forum Simon Lalong; Abubakar Baduru (Jigawa) and Babagana Zulum (Borno).

Others are: Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Bello Matawale (Zamfara); Mallam Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Yahaya Inuwa (Gombe); Abubakar Bello (Niger) and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe).