Reports emerged on Saturday claiming the National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is “working on an alternative party” to vie for the 2023 presidency.
Tinubu, who is presently the leading aspirants, is aware of plots by some party stalwart and governors to deny him the party’s ticket.
According to the report, Buhari, who had refused to name his preferred candidate over fear he or she would be killed, is said to be favouring a younger aspirant.
Tinubu, who is refusing to be caught off guard, is not putting all eggs in one basket to avoid being caught unawares by an “unfavourable outcome” of the APC primary.
It was gathered that the former Lagos State governor is planning to use the Ekiti State Governorship election to test the waters.
The APC leader is reportedly aligning with Segun Oni a one-time Ekiti Governor and SDP flagbearer, because he is aware he does not have the backing of Governor Kayode Fayemi, who is also interested in the presidency.
“The President wants a younger person and that’s not Tinubu.
“Fayemi wants to be President if the office is zoned to the South”, a source told Daily Post.
“If he fails, he may get the SGF (Secretary to the Government of the Federation) position as long as the next President or Vice are not from South-West.
“Tinubu is monitoring all that’s happening and he seems to have pitched his tent with the SDP.
“The truth is that civil servants like Oni are ready to vote for him.
“With his cold war with Fayemi and Oni’s popularity, Tinubu has developed a soft spot for the SDP.
“And this isn’t just about Ekiti election, he may contest on the platform if APC denies him a ticket.”
It was gathered that Oni’s running mate, Otunba Ladi Owolabi was picked after consultations with Tinubu’s camp.
“Oni, 67, is from Ifaki while Owolabi, 68, is an Ado Ekiti indigene.
Sources also accused the Fayemi administration of allegedly stopping Tinubu from using the Adetiloye Hall during his visit to Ekiti monarchs a fortnight ago.
“The authorities stopped the use of the venue because Fayemi isn’t working for his political leader’s ambition.
“In fact, by the time Tinubu landed, Fayemi left the state via helicopter.
“They said he had to be in Abuja. He could have briefly showed up at the parley with the Obas but didn’t want to be seen with Tinubu in such a gathering”, another source told Daily Post.