Northern APC Governors Tell Buhari Where to Pick Preferred Successor From

• Ahead of the presidential primary of the ruling APC, governors elected on the party's platform from the northern region have taken a strong decision
• The northern APC governors said they are backing the southern region to produce Nigeria's next president in 2023
• The governors also asked President Buhari to limit his search for a preferred successor to the southern region

FCT, Abuja - The All Progressives Congress (APC) governors from the north have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to look toward the southern presidential hopefuls when considering his successor.

According to TheCable, governors released a statement to this effect after a meeting on Saturday, July 4.

They said power shift to the South will be in the interest of building a stronger, more united and more progressive country.

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APC primary: All northern presidential aspirants advised to withdraw

They advised all northern presidential aspirants to withdraw in the national interest and allow only aspirants from the south to proceed to the primaries, The Nation also reported.

Legit.ng gathers that the governors made their position known in a communique at the end of a meeting in Abuja.

The leaders, who sent an advisory to Buhari were Governors Nasir El-Rufai, Aminu Bello Masari, Simon Lalong, Abdullahi Ganduje, Muhammed Inuwa Yahaya, Bello Matawalle and Abubakar Sani Bello.

Others were Abdullahi Sule, Babagana Umara Zulum, Atiku Bagudu and ex-Governor Aliyu Wamakko.

The communique read:

“APC governors and political leaders from the northern states of Nigeria today met to review the political situation and to further support our party in providing progressive leadership amidst our national challenges.

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“During our discussions, we welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari’s invitation to governors and other stakeholders to contribute to the emergence of a strong presidential candidate for the APC.

“After careful deliberation, we wish to state our firm conviction that after eight years in office of President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC for the 2023 elections should be one of our teeming members from the southern states of Nigeria. “It is a question of honour for the APC, an obligation that is not in anyway affected by the decisions taken by another political party.

“We affirm that upholding this principle is in the interest of building a stronger, more united and more progressive country.”

The northern governors also pleaded with President Buhari to limit his search for a successor to the South.

The communique continued:

“We therefore wish to strongly recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari that the search for a successor as the APC’s presidential candidate be limited to our compatriots from the southern States.

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“We appeal to all aspirants from the northern states to withdraw in the national interest and allow only the aspirants from the south to proceed to the primaries.

“We are delighted by the decision of our esteemed colleague, His Excellency, Governor Abubakar Badaru to contribute to this patriotic quest by withdrawing his presidential aspiration.

“The APC has a duty to ensure that the 2023 elections offer a nation-building moment, reaffirming that a democratic pathway to power exists for all who value cooperation and build national platforms.

“This moment calls for the most sober and inclusive approach to selecting our party’s candidate, and we call on all APC leaders to fulfil their responsibility in this regard.”

Tinubu, Osinbajo, other southwest APC presidential aspirants meet

Meanwhile, hours after meeting with President Buhari at the State House, Abuja, presidential aspirants of the ruling APC from the southwest, held another meeting.

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Photos emerge as Tinubu, Osinbajo, Lawan, other APC presidential aspirants meet with Buhari

The meeting which kicked off on Saturday night, June 4, continued till Sunday morning as stakeholders from the region battled for a consensus candidate.

Photos from the meeting were shared by the governor of Osun state, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Twitter.

Source: Legit.ng