Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State, has revealed that Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president; Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State; and Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, have all expressed their interest to contest the 2023 presidential election.
Makinde revealed this in an interview on Thursday.
There have been questions about who the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would pick as its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, especially as it zoned its National Chairmanship seat to the North.
The aforementioned trio are all members of the PDP< the country’s main opposition party.
But despite zoning its National Chairmanship seat to the North, Governor Makinde disclosed that Atiku and Governors Tambuwal and Mohammed have indicated their interest to contest the election in two years time.
He stated that has “eminently qualified” personalities that can lead the country successfully, saying that the only way of stopping the PDP in 2023 is by dividing the party.
“I make bold to say that the situation in this country today, the only way that you can stop PDP at the federal level is by dividing PDP internally,” the Oyo Governor said on Channels Television.
“All the governors of the PDP are well aware of this fact and we made unity within ourselves our number one priority. Once the governors of PDP are able to move in one direction, align on most of the issues and the challenges we are faced with, I think there is hope for this country.
“The issue right now is that our party — PDP — has eminently qualified personalities that can lead this country successfully. Some have indicated interest like former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, like Governor Tambuwal, like Governor Bala Mohammed.
“They have indicated interest. But the bottom line is when we get to that bridge, we will definitely cross it. What is important at this stage, which I will solicit the support of PDP members and the generality of Nigerians, is please support us to have a successful national convention
“There is no way you can become anything — president, vice-president, even governor — if we don’t have a party. What we want to do first is ensure that we get things right within our party.”
