Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos state, and many other politicians around the country, including Dave Umahi, Orji Uzor Kalu, Yahaya Bello, and others, have expressed their intentions to run for president in 2023.
The APC cabals, who said they didn’t have a favorite candidate, have made it plain that their ticket is open to anyone who wants to run for the party’s flag bearer, who would be picked by party members in a primary election.
What are the chances that Tinubu will become Nigeria’s next president if he wins the APC primary election?
To begin with, Tinubu is undeniably a marketable politician who enjoys widespread support and acceptance across the country. His cunning, combined with the fact that he has long been a kingmaker in Nigerian politics, could make him difficult to defeat in the 2023 election. Apart from that, because the APC currently controls numerous state governorships and more than half of Nigeria’s local governments, Tinubu’s struggle to become the party’s flag bearer will be a plus for the party because its many members will eventually work hard for their party to retain the presidential seat, giving Tinubu an advantage.
Another reason is that Tinubu’s wise decision to forge solid ties with the north, which is home to the majority of Nigeria’s population, will definitely benefit him. He has met with two Northern elders, Tanko Yakasai and Ibrahim Babangida, and he is acquainted with many Northern Governors, including Abdulahi Ganduje, Nasir El Rufai, and others, and their supporters will vote for him in the end.
It is left to be seen if Tinubu will eventually be given the party’s ticket.
