Presidential aspirants on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress will have to wait till May to know who among them will fly the party’s flag in the 2023 presidential election.
It was also learnt that the party would peg money for its presidential nomination form at N50m.
Some of the aspirants like a former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello; Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi and a former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Kalu; and ex-Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha have openly declared their interest to succeed the President, Muhammadu Buhari, whose second year tenure ends on May 29, 2023.
Other aspirants rumoured to have presidential ambition in the party but have yet to declare their intention include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Amafiele.
Of all the aspirants, only Tinubu has been visiting different caucuses of the party, including its members in the National Assembly, soliciting their support.
He had also visited Buhari to inform him about his desire to succeed him in 2023.
It was gathered that the party had pencilled down May for the presidential primary, but would leave the exact date for the primary to be decided by the members of its National Working Committee that would emerge at its March 26 national convention in Abuja.
A party chieftain, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “Next month is Ramadan so we are not considering April for the presidential primary or any of the primaries.
“The presidential primary should hold in May. And of course, the Presidential form will be going for nothing less than N50m. This is not final but this is what is being discussed and I am sure it will be approved.”
No reason was given for the expected increment in the nomination fee for the party.
Source: Punch