Bigwigs likely to contest Tinubu to the APC presidential slot

Former two-time Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is rumored as the potential presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general elections.

While some Nigerians and party faithful believe the former governor is the right candidate to represent the party, some other bigwigs are also nursing their ambitions.

Like every other political season in Nigeria, several big names have come up as possible candidates. Read more below.

Bola Tinubu

Bola Tinubu has been known to be a fierce politician with experience in leadership. Aside from politics, he is known to dominate the commercial market space, especially in Lagos state.

Despite the rumors, the former governor of Lagos state has been silent on whether or not he will run for president on the ticket of his founded party, All Progressive Congress (APC).



Kayode Fayemi

Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Feyemi has been in office since October 16, 2018. He previously served in office between 2010 and 2014 before losing re-election to Ayodele Fayose.

Following his excellent works as governor, a caucus has suggested Kayode represent the APC as president for the 2023 elections. A statement released by a member of the party stating that the State party has welcomed the idea of Kayode running for president come 2023, has been denied by the Secretary of the same party.



According to the party executives, the endorsement represents the view of a few people.

This denial can be seen as a zero acceptance and endorsement from the Ekiti state party.

Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai

Another candidate suggested for the 2023 presidential election is Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, a politician who is the Governor of Kaduna State. He has been in office since 2015 and currently serving his second term as governor.

He was previously the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007 and the director of the Bureau of Public Enterprises. He is also a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress.



El-Rufai has been known as a businessman before joining politics and his good works as governor have led some persons to call for his candidature as president.

Recently, several posters of him contesting as a running mate popped up, and having discovered this, he denied being behind such an act. Adding that he "just wants to be the best governor he can be for the people of Kaduna and until he fulfills the promises he made he wouldn't be discussing presidential ambitions".



Rotimi Amaechi

The current Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi is another name rumored as a potential flagbearer of the party. A stalwart and a founding member, a source loyal to the Amaechi tendencies in APC was quoted in The Vanguard as saying: “At the inception of the APC, the agreement was that the CPC will control power, ACN will control the party, and n-PDP will control the legislature but now the CPC and ACN want to control all. This cannot be allowed to continue as we approach 2023.”

According to The Vanguard, Amaechi remains one of the biggest pillars of the APC in the South-South, given the fate of Oshiomhole. Others include Chief Timipre Sylva, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, and Senator Godswill Akpabio but Amaechi is said to be closest to President Buhari among the lot.