Buhari effectively launches 2019 presidential campaign by naming Amaechi as his campaign chief

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has effectively launched his 2019 re-election campaign by naming transport minister Rotimi Amaechi, to head his presidential team and communications minister Adebayo Shittu as chair of its board of trustees.

 

As was the case in 2015, former Rivers State governor Amaechi will be the director-general of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation. President Buhari will now almost certainly be the All Progressives Congress's (APC) flagbearer in next year's presidential elections after beating off challenges from several interested candidates last week.

 

Already, Governor Amaechi has been issued with a letter of appointment for next year’s election and would make an official announcement on his appointment anytime soon. Communications minister Shittu, who briefed the media after the meeting with the president, said the campaign team he will be heading will be called Muhammadu Buhari/Osinbajo Dynamic Support Group.

 

Mr Shittu said: “I informed Mr President that I have appointed national chairman of the board of trustees of Muhammadu Buhari/Osinbajo Dynamic Support Group and on the 20th of this month we are commissioning the south-west zonal office of the campaign organisation of Buhari/Osinbajo.”

 

According to some party sources, APC national leader Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu was also believed to have told some of those close to the president that while he and his loyalists in the south-west were ready to back President Buhari’s re-election bid, the condition for their support would be different this time around. According to one source, the APC chieftain told those who approached him on President Buhari’s re-election bid that they may seek a written agreement.

 

He said: “Let it be known that we supported him in 2015 based on trust. This time, around, we have to negotiate proper agreement.”

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