Just in: APC Northern Governors, leaders back zoning of presidency to South

Governors of northern states controlled by the All Progressives Congress rose from a crucial meeting on Saturday, voting in support of the south producing the party’s 2023 presidential candidate.

The meeting said 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”.

Their consequential statement was signed by the Governors of Katsina, Niger, Nasarawa, Borno, Katsina, Gombe, Zamfara, Plateau, Kano and Kebbi; and former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aliyu Wamakko

Read their statement in extenso hereunder:

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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. 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.

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. 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.

Signed, 4th June 2022:

Aminu Bello Masari                                Governor of Katsina State

Abubakar Sani Bello                              Governor of Niger State

Abdullahi A. Sule                                   Governor of Nasarawa State

Prof. B.G. Umara Zulum

Governor of Borno State

Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai

Governor of Kaduna State

Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya                     Governor of Gombe State

Bello M. Matawalle                                 Governor of Zamfara State

Simon Bako Lalong                               Governor of Plateau State

Senator Aliyu Wamakko

Former Governor of Sokoto State