Gov Yahaya Bello


Ahead the 2023 presidential election, the ruling APC still rides on the assumption that Nigerians should reelect it for another term. The assumption is more of an illusion than pragmatic as there exists no reason to give the party a second chance.

Indeed, APC's parade of presidential hopefuls has not thrown up an aspirant with ready answers to Nigeria's troubling issues of worsening standards of living, rising inflation  insecurity, corruption and others.

Gov Dave Umahi

Can Nigerians still afford to trust APC for another term in office considering its track record of ineptitude so far? is a question the aspirants must proffer a clear cut answer to, to be taken seriously

From its crowd of presidential aspirants, perhaps one or two understands the issues at stake; Some are merely prancing around the stage. We  have the pretenders - aspirants with no business in the presidential race; There are also opportunists - those who  approach the race as a means to an end.

Sen Rochas Okorocha

Kogi state Governor Yahaya Bello is one of the earliest to indicate interest in the race for presidency. Indeed, political analysts view his aspiration as a practical political joke. Sources point to his romance with former APC National caretaker chairman, Governor Buni of Yobe state as a factor that fueled his early confidence, but the emergence of APC's National Chairman from the North-Central indicates where the party's presidential flagbearer might finally  emerge from

In addition, other challenges, including his below average performance as Kogi governor for two-terms and non-name recognition nationwide are deficits he cannot remedy in the short term.

 Even his pro-youths thrust has failed to attract the interest of Nigeria's teeming, politically conscious youths.


Prof Yemi Osibanjo

From the South-East, SE comes Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State running on the strength of zoning  that the presidency be zoned to the SE.

Though buoyed by his outstanding performance as governor, it is doubtful if Umahi has the national clout, influence and structure to pursue his ambition beyond mere  rhetorics

Pastor Tunde Bakare

Whenever, the name of former Imo state governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha crops up as a presidential aspirant, it further throws up the rhetorical question: 'Is Saul also among the prophets?' 

Sen. Okorocha is a crossbreed of Bello's youthful exuberance and Umahi's misplaced assumptions


Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

An advanced copy of fully evolved Bello, Umahi and Okorocha rolled into one is former Abia State governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu whose consistent equivocation on his presidential ambition raises eye brows in every political gathering. He sees his assets in the race as being the poster boy of the ruling Northern  cabal

The antelope who danced itself lame before the festivities began seems a fitting description  for Vice-President Yemi Osibanjo's entry into the presidential race.

The eminent legal luminary is an aspirant worth his weight in gold, but his sermon of continuity comes across as the unkindest cut of all. Is it a  continuum of the grim poverty pushing  Nigerians to their early death? Or a  Continuity of hiking the public debt? Or  allowing terrorists and insurgents more foothold in the Country?

In  presidential race, Prof Osibanjo bears close resemblance to   Ama Ata Aidoo's ghost trapped at the junction of Elmina in her book 'The Dilemma of a Ghost'.

Pastor Tunde Bakare General Overseer of Citadel Global Community Church is an aspirant whose entry into the race raises more questions than answers. Recall he ran as President Muhammadu Buhari's vice presidential candidate in the 2011 presidential race, and thereafter faded out of active politicking. The controversial cleric, out of all the aspirants is the only one with a clearly articulated manifesto, promising amongst others peace and stability. But a minus, minus for him is his lack of political structure across Nigeria's diverse political terrain.

Talking of Hon Rotimi Amaechi, a political analyst who would rather not be named said Nigerians must watch the former Rivers governor closely, and immediately he adds 'Abdulahi' to his names, it signals his arrival to the Presidency.

Perhaps Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the Ijele in the crowded political race. Forging ahead with bulldog's determination, Tinubu would brook no obstacle to his emergence either  as an APC Presidential candidate or any other party for that matter. The odds are weighed against the former Lagos state governor -  opposition from the APC, the split in the political camp he deliberately cultivated over the years and his anti-Igbo stance.

Alas, beyond his focus on the race,  Tinubu has not advanced a particularly strong reason(s) why Nigerians must vote him as president.

Who else is in the presidential race? Hon Emeka Nwajiuba, Minister of State for Education has been named as one, same as Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Indeed both are mentioned in the same breath as having the backing of the powers that be.

One must not forget Senator Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Productivity who seems to be coming into the race as an after thought and on the strength of zoning

Others yet to fully make up their mind include Ekiti state Governor Kayode Fayemi and Senator Ibikunle Amosun, former Ogun State governor.