FELIX NWANERI reports 
FELIX NWANERI reports that whereas All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential hopefuls are still caught up in the mind game that has characterised the build-up to the next general election, their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterparts have emerged as early birds of 2023 presidential race
The haze over the 2023 presidency is gradually easing off as some of those aspiring to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari have started making public their intention to vie for the highest office in the land.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced February 18, 2023 as the date for the next presidential election, but most of the presidential hopefuls within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have continued to keep their plans to themselves.
Unlike in previous general elections, when some gladiators declared their intentions even more than two years to the polls, the buildup to the 2023 presidential election has been characterized by what some political analysts have described as a mind game as those touted to have interest in the presidency have mainly announced their ambitions through campaign posters sponsored by cronies or support groups. Among those whose posters for the 2023 presidential election have so far surfaced are the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC),
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el- Rufai and Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi. Other APC chieftains, who have their posters either on the streets or the social media are the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi; Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello; Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum and Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, among others.
There have equally been campaign posters linked to some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said to be nursing presidential ambition. They include former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; ex-governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi; a former governor of Kano State; Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal; Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed and a former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe. There is also a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and 2019 presidential candidate, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, who has declared to take another shot on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
However, denials have continued to trail the emergence of campaign posters and materials of most of these presidential hopefuls, apparently because the development contravenes Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, which states that “campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.” While this development have raised concerns among party stakeholders over the seriousness or otherwise of the aspiration of those linked to the race for Buhari’s successor, there is no doubt that the unresolved issues of zoning between the two leading political parties is the main reason why most of those nursing ambition to contest the 2023 presidential election are still playing the mind game.
On paper, power is expected to shift to the southern part of the country by the time Buhari’s tenure elapses on May 29, 2023 given the zoning arrangement between the North and South, which took effect from 1999. However, recent developments in the polity show that the forthcoming presidential election will go beyond a southern affair as gladiators from both sides of the country’s political divides are gearing up for the contest.
For the APC, mum is the word for now over where its flag bearer for the presidential election will come from between the North and South but many believe that the picture will become clear after the party’s national convention billed for February next year
For the PDP, which its October 30th national convention saw the emergence of a former President of the Senate, Iyorchia Ayu, from the North as National Chairman, the contest for the party’s presidential ticket has been declared open for aspirants from all parts of the country.
The declaration, perhaps, explains why the opposition party seems to have taken the lead in the race for the 2023 presidential election as some of its chieftains, who have their eyes on the presidential ticket, have started making their aspiration public.
Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, had ahead of the PDP national convention given a clue on some members of the party, who have thrown their hats to the ring for the presidential ticket. He listed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 elections; Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal and Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed.
His words: “Our party has eminently qualified personalities that can lead this country successfully. Some have indicated interest like former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Governor Bala Mohammed. But the bottom line is when we get to that bridge, we will definitely cross it.”
While the trio are yet to publicly declare whether they will contest the presidential poll or not, the likes of Anyim Pius Anyim and Bukola Saraki, two former presidents of the Senate and a former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe, have told Nigerians that they would be running for the 2023 presidency on the platform of the PDP.
Anyim, who was President of the Senate between 2000 and 2003 and later served as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), declared his intention at the eve of the PDP national convention. He said he is determined to run for the nation’s top job whether or not there is zoning in the party.
His words: “Posters of my presidential bid and agitations by groups for me to contest flooded the social media in 2020 and I disassociated myself from such calls. I felt that it was too early for such a declaration, to enable the present administration to concentrate on governance. “Such calls resurfaced in the early part of 2021 and I chose to be quiet over the issue.
We currently have less than 18 months to the next elections, and I feel the time is ripe to indicate my interest.” This is the first time the Ebonyi State born lawyer turned politician, who joined politics in 1998, when he became a member of the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) would be taking a shot at Nigeria’s presidency.
For Saraki, who led the Senate between 2015 and 2019 after serving as governor of Kwara State for eight years (2003-2011), his declaration to vie for the presidential ticket of the PDP for the 2023 elections, is the third time he would be doing so.
He had in 2011 declared for the party’s presidential primary but later stepped down in support of the northern consensus candidate, Atiku, while his second bid was in 2019, but he lost at the primary election to Atiku.
Saraki, who made his intention known during his recent visit to the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, made a veil reference to the performance of the APC for his decision to join the presidential race.
He said: “A political party that cannot organize its affairs has no business leading this country. A party that has organized its affairs is ready to lead the country and that is the PDP.” Governor Ortom, who noted that the PDP is on a rescue mission to save Nigeria from the APC government, disclosed that Saraki is the first person from the North Central Zone to declare his interest in running for the office of the president come 2023.
A former presidential spokesperson, Okupe, who has equally declared his presidential ambition on the platform of the PDP, promised to run a government that prioritises the needs of the poor.
His word: “I believe I have the knowledge, the requisite national political experience and intellectual capacity and wisdom to halt the social and economic decadence, insecurity and pervasive poverty that has nearly made living meaningless in Nigeria.
“I want to run a government which for the first time will make the life, wellbeing and safety of lives and properties especially of the Poor and needy a major priority.”
