Breaking: Northern APC Govs Want Buhari’s Successor to Come from South

*Urge northern APC aspirants to withdraw from race

•Badaru drops presidential bid

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Northern Governors and party leaders from the north have recommended that President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor should come from the southern part of the country.

The northern governors made their position known  in a statement issued Saturday and jointly signed by the Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Bello            

Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule   Governor of Borno State,  Prof. Babagana Zulum,     Governor Nasir El-Rufai  of Kaduna State, Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, Governor of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, Governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong  Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje, Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu and former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Wamakko.

The northern governors appealed to all aspirants from the northern states to withdraw in the national interest and allow only the aspirants from the south to proceed to the primaries.

They said the ruling  APC has a duty to ensure that the 2023 elections offer a nation-building moment, reaffirming that a democratic pathway to power exists for all who value cooperation and build national platforms.

The northern governors noted that  this moment calls for the most sober and inclusive approach to selecting the party’s candidate, while calling on all APC leaders to fulfil their responsibility in this regard. 

The governors expressed delight by the decision of Badaru to  contribute to this patriotic quest by withdrawing his presidential aspiration.  

The statement read: “APC governors and political leaders from the northern states of Nigeria today met to review the political situation and to further support our party in providing progressive leadership amidst our national challenges. 

“During our discussions, we welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari’s invitation to governors and other stakeholders to contribute to the emergence of a strong presidential candidate for the APC.  

“After careful deliberation, we wish to state our firm conviction that after eight years in office of President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC for the 2023 elections should be one of our teeming members from the southern states of Nigeria.

 “It is a question of honour for the APC, an obligation that is not in any way affected by the decisions taken by another political party. We affirm that upholding this principle is in the interest of building a stronger, more united and more progressive country.

“We therefore wish to strongly recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari that the search for a successor as the APC’s presidential candidate be limited to our compatriots from the southern states. 

“We appeal to all aspirants from the northern states to withdraw in the national interest and allow only the aspirants from the south to proceed to the primaries.”.