The race to clinch Nigeria’s apex political seat is becoming more intense as each day unfolds, with both current and past Nigerian political giants declaring interest for the office.
Current situation
In preparation for the 2023 general elections, President Muhammadu Buhari, in March, signed the Electoral Act (2022) into law to include direct, indirect and consensus mode as electoral methods.
- Candidates who have officially declared presidential interest under the two major political parties in Nigeria, APC and PDP, are currently undergoing consultation across the length and breadth of the nation.
- Both PDP and APC have scheduled May 2022 for party primaries ahead of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline for submission of candidates on the 3rd of June 2022.
- APC ordered aspirants currently occupying political positions through appointments to forfeit their current positions or forget their ambitions.
- The next few weeks leading up to Nigeria’s party primaries present intense political intrigues, coupled with unexpected alignment and realignment of forces.
Political aspirants
Some big profile names in the political sector who have declared interest to run for the 2023 presidential elections under the umbrella of the APC includes Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Ekiti State Governor and chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi, Former national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomole, among others.
On the other hand, opposition party, PDP, have candidates such as Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal Newspaper publisher, Dele Momodu; Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, etc.
What to watch
- With the APC’s presidential ticket set at N100 million and PDP’s set at N40 million, making a complete payment of the fees would serve as a litmus test to check the authenticity of contesting candidates’ interest.
- Presidential aspirants such as Vice President Osinbajo, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Peter Obi and others have made full payment of the presidential fees either with the help of support groups or from personal funds.
- Party faithfuls seem to conflict on zoning of electable seats to regions as all aspirants and their respective supporters are clamoring for a zoning technique that favors their agendas.