The vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Monday officially declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election.
The 65-year-old pastor turned politician made the declaration in a short broadcast shared via his Twitter handle after many months of below the line campaigns by his supporters.
“I am today, with utmost humility formally declaring my intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of All Progressives Congress,” he said in the broadcast.
Osinbajo had on Sunday chose the occasion of Iftar (the break of fast during Ramadan) to inform governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of his plan join the 2023 presidential race.
It was gathered that the vice president told the governors of his capacity and experience having been vice president for about seven years.
He said he had consulted widely and that he would inform Nigerians through a declaration today.
He further said having informed President Muhammadu Buhari, he felt the governors were the people to inform next.
It was learnt that about 10 APC governors attended the meeting, led by chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) and governor of Kebbi State, Mr. Atiku Bagudu.
The others were Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Hope Uzodimma (Imo) and Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna).
Bagudu, who responded on behalf of the governors, reportedly said the APC governors were looking forward to the party continuing to be in power after the 2023 election.
Osinbajo will contest the APC presidential primary against his former principal, Bola Tinubu; minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi; former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha and governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
