Akpabio, Onu and Oshiomhole all declare for president as battle for APC ticket heats up

NIGERIA'S 2023 presidential race has heated up significantly with several major gladiators including Niger Delta Affairs minister Senator Godswill Akpabio former All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman Adams Oshiomhole and science and technology minister Dr Ogbonnaya Onu formally declaring their candidacy.

Although not constitutional, Nigeria's component parts have a gentleman's agreement that the presidency will rotate between the north and the south of the country. President Muhammadu Buhari's tenure will end in 2023 and being a Fulani northern Muslim, it is expected that the next president will come from southern Nigeria.

In what appears to be an indication that the APC has informally agreed to zone its presidential ticket to the southern half of the country, three of the party's heavyweights have declared for president today. Earlier this week, the Ekiti State governor and chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi, announced his candidacy.

Already, some of the major APC gladiators seeking the party's presidential ticket include vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo, former Lagos State governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and transport minister Rotimi Amaechi. Between May 30 and June 1, the APC is due to hold its annual convention, where the party will pick its presidential candidate.

Senator Akpabio, a former Akwa Ibom State governor, flagged off his campaign at Ikot Ekpene the first local government area the British created in Nigeria,. He declared that he will stand on his record of transformational leadership during the right years he served as governor.