Categories: BREAKING NEWSPOLITICS

7 Days To APC Primary: North Queues Behind Lawan As Tinubu’s Men Weigh ‘Plan B’

Seven days to the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), there is palpable anxiety over the speculation that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu may dump the ruling party at the federal level if the exercise, scheduled for May 29 and 30, is manipulated against him.

Tinubu is one of the front runners in the contest for the APC presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 general elections.

And not only is he a front runner, but the former governor of Lagos State also has the support of many governors that cuts across his South-West geopolitical zone and stretches to other parts of the country for the party’s ticket.

No fewer than 12 of the 23 APC governors are said to be working for his emergence as the next President of the country.

But there are reports of powerful forces working against him, especially from the North which has now produced some aspirants contrary to the expectation that, based on the power rotation understanding, the southern part of Nigeria should produce the President in 2023.

The speculation that Tinubu may quit APC gained traction and, in fact, ruffled feathers in many political quarters, last week, after an unnamed associate hinted Vanguard that the former Lagos governor was considering moving to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to actualize his “lifelong ambition” of being Nigeria’s President if he was manipulated out of the 2023 race in the APC.

According to the associate, the development was the reason a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal, stated recently that Tinubu had Plan B if the APC primary is manipulated against him.

Although, he noted that APC remains the primary platform Tinubu intends to actualize his dream of presiding over the affairs of the nation, options, including moving to the SDP, would be explored if the primary comes short of transparency and credibility.

“It is too early to ask if Asiwaju would leave the APC for another party. He is a big factor in APC, a party he helped to form, financed and nurtured into what it is today”, the associate told Vanguard.

“We are not unaware of recent developments and attempts to insult a man who has paid his dues in the political evolution of this country. افضل موقع مراهنات كرة القدم

“But that is not important for now. What I can tell you is that our leader, like other contestants, is looking forward to a credible process that would lead to the emergence of our flag bearer.

“But if that process is compromised, I can tell you for free that we will encourage him to explore other options. “Yes, a lot has been said about SDP and Asiwaju. When we get to that bridge, we will cross it.

“SDP offered him a platform to become a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria years ago but, for now, he is in APC and will remain there until circumstance dictates otherwise”.

Meanwhile, the rumoured Plan B is generating anxiety among Tinubu’s associates.

The Director-General of Ondo State Network for Bola Tinubu, Tolu Babaleye, called the speculation a lie from the pit of hell, wondering how a landlord would abandon his house for tenants.

“Asiwaju is APC and APC is Asiwaju. There is no truth in the rumour, it is the handiwork of fifth columnists” Babaleye told Sunday Vanguard at the weekend.

On his part, the Director-General of BATOC 23, Dr Ayo Owoade, said: “First, if we are sure that we will have a free and fair primary election devoid of manipulation, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the candidate to beat. No one can beat him in a fair contest.

“However, if there is no fairness in the primary or some people eventually succeed to impose consensus on the party, as we know some people are seriously struggling to do, then Asiwaju has his options.