National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says he has already informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his intention to contest in the 2023 presidency election.
Tinubu disclosed this on Monday while speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting with Buhari at the presidential villa.
But he said he’s still consulting and would inform Nigerians officially.
“I’ve informed the President of my intention but I have not informed Nigerians yet. I’m still consulting,” the APC chieftain said.
Despite strong indications of his interest in succeeding Buhari in 2023, up until now, the APC national leader had avoided commenting on his presidential ambition.
But inspite of this, many Tinubu support groups have continued to spring up across the country while many of his campaign materials have been in circulation.
Last October, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led other APC members in the state to launch the South-west Agenda 2023 (SWAGA ‘23), a group campaign for Tinubu’s candidature in the 2023 presidential election.
Elder Statesman, Tanko Yakasai, a month after, claimed that Tinubu had sought his support for his 2023 presidential ambition.
According to Yakasai, “I don’t want to join any (political) party but I can support a candidate of my choice. I have said it way back in 1951 that I will not be a party member but I will support a candidate of my choice.
“He (Tinubu) just came to visit me but actually I have two of them (presidential aspirants) that I have earmarked right from the beginning and I made a vow that any one of them who came to ask for my support first is the person I would support. Tinubu is the first person. He (Tinubu) did and he asked for my support.”
Also, Tinubu, after a closed-door meeting with members of the Northern Alliance Committee (NAC) in December, had said despite still consulting, he would heed calls by individuals and groups urging him to contest for president.
“I’m not going to turn them down. But, I will still effectively and widely consult, particularly brainstorm with my friends and find a date to come out openly and tell Nigerians,” he had said.