Osinbajo, Amaechi and Lawan expected to sit out Tinubu's presidential election campaign

SEVERAL All Progressives Congress (APC) former presidential aspirants look set to boycott Asiwaju Bola Tinubu's election campaign as they remain disaffected with his candidacy so may chose to sit on the fence when campaigning starts.

On June 7, the APC held its presidential primary elections in Abuja with Asiwaju Tinubu emerging the winner of the contest after securing a landslide victory. Among those he defeated to clinch the ticket are vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and senate president Senator Ahmad Lawan.

Asiwaju Tinubu scored 1,271 votes to defeat his closest challenger Governor Amaechi, who polled 316 votes, while Professor Osinbajo came third with 235 votes. Since then, however, both men have kept their distance from Asiwaju Tinubu, as they are said to be unhappy with his candidacy, especially as it appeared that he won with it with financial inducements to delegates.

APC chieftain Dr Martins Apeh, claimed that Professor Osinbajo actually rejected the offer to be included in the recently released APC Presidential Campaign Council. He added that the vice president and Governor Amaechi have no confidence in Asiwaju Tinubu’s candidacy and would distance themselves from the campaign.

Dr Apeh said: “You see, Osinbajo believes in the new Nigeria project, he doesn’t believe in the old politicians who may not have anything to offer Nigerians but only see power as property that can be acquired. When Osinbajo lost the primary election, he stated clearly that his dream to support a new Nigeria has not changed.

"Don’t be surprised if the vice president makes a big announcement to support a candidate of another party. Amaechi for his part is still very angry with the party on what played out during the APC primary. It was a shock to him and other Nigerians.”

According to Dr Apeh, Governor Amaechi, Professor Osinbajo and Senator Lawal may work for the presidential candidate of another party. He stated that those who want the country to work again will not jeopardise another four years in the hands of people they do not believe can deliver.

It is now feared that Governor Amaechi, may not accept his appointment as the special adviser on infrastructure of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council. Back on July 25 in Port Harcourt, Governor Amaechi said that the delegates who voted Asiwaju Tinubu during the APC presidential primary were regretting their decision.

Another party leader Patrick Okwori, added: "Even some of us that are trying hard to push our party even to the grassroot levels, we are doing it not because of any candidate but because it is our party and the party must work. We have several stakeholders who are not happy that the party is fielding a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

"If either Amaechi or Osinbajo had won the primary, the campaign would have been very easy because they are Christians and getting a Muslim northerner would have been a simple thing."