Buhari to deliver nationwide address on whether he will seek re-election next year or not

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari intends to deliver a nationwide television address soon during which he will either formally declare himself a candidate for next year's elections or announce that he will be standing down and retiring.

Nigeria is due to hold general elections next year and having only served a term in office, President Buhari is still eligible to run again. Despite him not having formally declared himself a candidate, several of the president's aides have begun setting up campaign groups and 24 All Progressives Congress (APC) governors have declared their support for a candidate Buhari.

However, several prominent Nigerians have asked the president to stand down and retire at the end of his first tenure next down. Among the concerns they have raised are President Buhari's failing health and the fact that his government appears to have lost its way on matters like the fight against corruption, security and the economy.

Yesterday, President Buhari met with several APC governors at the presidential villa in Abuja and after the meeting, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State said no final decision has been taken on the matter. Governor Okorocha, the chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, confirmed that President Buhari would soon address the nation on whether he will seek re-election in 2019.

Governor Okorocha said: “We discussed so many issues that affect the nation, our party and Mr President’s ambition to run for 2019 elections. Anyhow, Mr President in his usual manner has requested that we give him time and that he will address the nation and the caucus of the party very soon.

“So, we should be full of expectations that Mr President will make officially known to Nigerians his intentions. However, we hope that his response will be in line with what the governors are thinking."

According to the governor, it is the desire of the governors that the president seek re-election in view of his tremendous performances in the last two and half years. He added that they believe that if he continues in office for another four years, Nigeria will be better for it.