The race to emerge as the successor of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 has started and politicians across the six geopolitical zones have already begun to declare their presidential ambitions.
Naija News reports that there have been calls for the 2023 presidency to be zoned to the Southern region with South West governors and the Pan Yoruba socio-culture organization Afenifere, leading the campaign.
Amidst the calls for zoning, five sitting governors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have indicated their interest to lead the country in 2023.
The governors who have joined the 2023 presidential race include Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).
In this article, we will be looking at the governors who have declared their presidential aspirations and their chances of becoming their party’s flagbearer.
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Nyesom Wike
On March 27, 2022, Governor Nyesom Wike of River state declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election.
He disclosed this in Markurdi on Sunday during talks with Governor Samuel Ortom and some delegates of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike, who is popularly called ‘national governor’ by some PDP members, said he has the courage and resources to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from power at the ballot box.
According to the Rivers governor, he would tackle the festering insecurity in the country and engender rule of law.
Speaking further, Wike berated some of the PDP presidential aspirants for neglecting the opposition party when their expertise and experience were really needed.
In a veiled reference to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Wike blamed the two chieftains for the party’s defeat in the 2015 presidential election.
In an interview on Channels Television on Monday, Wike said he will forfeit his presidential ambition if the PDP decides to zone its presidential ticket to the north.
Aminu Tambuwal
The Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, on 31 January, declared his intention to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Tambuwal who disclosed his intention after a stakeholders’ meeting in Sokoto would be seeking to clinch the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The PDP chieftain while speaking at the declaration said he is prepared and ready to fix the challenges rocking the progress of the country.
Tambuwal further stated that he has not only distinguished himself as a Speaker of the House of Reps without any blemish or corruption tag.
Meanwhile, a group of friends led by Aree Olumiyiwa Akinboro have purchased the PDP Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for Tambuwal to contest in the forthcoming presidential election.
Also, Tambuwal has said he would meet with Atiku Abubakar on the possibility of presenting a consensus candidate for the PDP.
This is coming a few days after Tambuwal, former president of the senate, Bukola Saraki, the governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed agreed to present a consensus candidate for PDP.
Yahaya Bello
On January 20 2022, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has announced his intention to run for the 2023 presidency under the APC.
He made the declaration during a meeting with APC legislators as well as women groups from the North-East subregion which was held in Bauchi at Hazibal hotel on Thursday.
The governor disclosed that he intends to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2033 because the country deserves better and more purposeful leadership from the youth.
Meanwhile, governor Bello has thrown his weight behind the option for a northern candidate to take over from President Buhari in 2023.
According to the governor, the north-central deserves a shot at the presidency than the South-east.
Naija News reports the governor made the submission while speaking with State House