2023 Presidency: APC South West Leaders Move To Produce Consensus Candidate

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South West are reportedly mounting pressure on presidential aspirants from the zone to agree on a consensus candidate.

It was learned that the APC leaders in the region are making the move in order not to hamper the chances of the South West to produce the next president.

Recall that a former APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, convened a meeting of aspirants in the zone.

During the meeting, it was agreed that they should conduct their electioneering campaigns devoid of hostility, free of rancour and in an amicable manner.

However, a source told Daily Trust that the leaders from the zone were not comfortable with all the aspirants going into the primary on May 30.

The source said some of the leaders were of the view that sending many contenders to the presidential primary will do no good for the South West in producing the next president.

They, therefore, said the zone will agree on a candidate before the commencement of the primary.

“All the other aspirants are expected to work for the emergence of a consensus aspirant at the presidential primary. This is the way the zone can have the upper hand, otherwise, another aspirant might emerge if the house is divided,” he said.

Another source revealed that the move might fail as some aspirants believed that those leading the consensus arrangement were loyal to one of the aspirants.

He said the aspirants were pushing to be allowed to choose one of them during which they would agree on a consensus instead of allowing the elders to decide for them.

Presidential aspirants from the South West include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; former Speaker of House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi

Others are former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Robert Ajayi Boroffice and Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare.