Nigerian Politics

APC primary: Godfather, godson in battle of wits

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APC primary: Godfather, godson in battle of wits

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The ongoing presidential primary election of the ruling All Progressives Congress promises to be a straight fight between the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The two frontline contestants survived the intense shuffling of the cards by the APC Northern governors and other party stakeholders in a process that saw, in quick succession, the initial 23 presidential aspirants reduced to five, three and eventually two by Tuesday evening.

Although the likes of the former minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Senate President as well as other less popular aspirants have insisted on going the whole hog of contesting at ongoing presidential primary election at the Eagle Square, Abuja, anxious delegates are now left with making their choice between Tinubu and Osinbajo – the godfather and his godson.

Osinbajo, you will recall, cut his teeth in politics and had his tutelage under Tinubu, who appointed him his attorney general and commissioner for justice during his eight-year tenure as governor of Lagos State.

Tinubu it was who also brought Osinbajo into higher and national political limelight by recommending and nominating him as running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari, who in the 2015 general elections was the APC presidential flagbearer.

But having learnt the ropes during his almost eight-year tenure as Vice President to Buhari, Osinbajo believes he is the right person to succeed his outgoing boss in 2023.

It was on this political ambition of his that the godson decided to dare his godfather, who incidentally was nursing same.

Henceforth, they both became political rivals! All efforts made by various groups and personalities to make the godson step down from the presidential race for his godfather ended in futility as they both dug in to realise their individual political ambitions.

And on Tuesday night, the godfather and his godson entered the field of play to slug it out for the coveted presidential ticket of the ruling APC.

Nigerians are now waiting with bated breath for the outcome of the presidential primary election in which the godson has decided to take on his godfather.

The question now still agitating the minds of many Nigerians is this: will the godson floor his godfather or will the godfather trounce his recalcitrant godson?

The answer to this poser remains in the realm of conjecture until the party’s 2,322 delegates from across the 774 local government areas in the country are done with voting to decide the political fate of the duo and the final results announced.

Meanwhile, voting by delegates at the ongoing APC presidential primary kicked off at past 2am amid tight security, and under the watch of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission as well as aspirants’ agents.

Kebbi State Governor and Chairman, Electoral Committee, Atiku Bagudu, in his speech before the commencement of voting by the delegates, said 14 out of the 23 aspirants screened for the primary are in the race for the party’s presidential ticket.

Bagudu said nine others had withdrawn from the race, urging the 2,340 delegates to write the name of the aspirant they wish to vote for in full.

According to him, this is to avoid a mix-up as three of presidential aspirants have Ahmed as part of their names.