With exactly 405 days until the 2023 presidential election, the search for a new leader for Africa’s most populous country and largest economy – Nigeria – has begun.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced Saturday, February 18, as the date for the 2023 general election.
Recall President Muhammadu Buhari during an exclusive with Channels Tv last week, said he won’t reveal the identity of his anointed candidate for the safety of such a person.
This, however, has become a growing sensation on social media, as many Nigerians have been wondering who exactly is Buhari’s favourite in the ruling All Progressive Congress.
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Quest Times takes a look at some eminent Nigerians who may very well fit Buhari’s favourite person to be next president in the ruling APC.
Bola Tinubu
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu aka Jagaban is the former Governor of Lagos, who assumed office from 1999 to 2007. He is the current national leader of APC. His political career began in 1992, when he joined the Social Democratic Party where he was a member of the Peoples Front faction led by Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and made up of other politicians such as Umaru Yar’Adua, Atiku Abubakar, Baba Gana Kingibe, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Abdullahi Aliyu, Magaji Abdullahi, Dapo Sarumi and Yomi Edu. He was elected to the Senate, representing the Lagos West constituency in the short-lived Nigerian Third Republic. He is assumed to be vying for the position of president come 2023.
Yemi Osinbajo
Prof Yemi Osinbajo is the current Vice President of Nigeria. Born on 8 March 1957, the pastor cum politician was employed as a law lecturer at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. From 1983 to 1986, he was a Senior Lecturer of Law at the University of Lagos. From 1988 to 1992, he was an Adviser (legal advice and litigation) to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bola Ajibola. He is also expected to be in the race for the Number One position in 2023 though he has not made an official declaration yet, but let’s wait for the drama in the coming days.
Yahaya Bello
Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello popularly known as GYB is currently the youngest governor in Nigeria, with strong political ties with Mr. President. He was winner of the 2015 Kogi gubernatorial election after he was chosen on the platform of the All Progressives Congress as the replacement for the late Abubakar Audu who originally won the election but died before the result was declared. Some young Nigerians, especially Kogites believe Yahaya Bello is the best candidate that can succeed Buhari in 2023.
Rochas Okorocha
Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha is a Nigerian politician of Igbo extraction from Imo. He is the Senator representing Imo West Senatorial district at the 9th Nigerian Senate. He is also the former Governor of Imo. He is believed to be eyeing the Number One seat come 2023. However, he has not made an official declaration yet.
Godwill Akpabio
Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON, is a Nigerian lawyer and politician. He is the current Minister of Niger-Delta, a former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Senate’s Minority Leader. He also served as Governor of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria from May 29, 2007 to May 29, 2015. Can Godwill Akpabio take over from Buhari come 2023? This is a rhetoric that takes critical reasoning to decode.
Kayode Fayemi
John Olukayode Fayemi, is a Nigerian politician who is currently serving as the Governor of Ekiti and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum in office since 16 October 2018. He previously served in office between 2010 and 2014 before losing re-election to Ayodele Fayose. The 57-year-old politician is believed by some political pundits to be one of the choicest candidates from South-West that may likely be contesting for president in 2023.
Babatunde Fashola
Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN is a Nigerian lawyer and current Federal Minister of Works and Housing. He served two terms as Governor of Lagos State from May 29, 2007 to May 29, 2015. He is also another eminent Nigerian who may very well fit Buhari’s choicest person to be next president.
