2023: Osinbajo’s APC Supporters Unveil Members, Abuja Campaign Office

By James Orji

The Progressives Consolidated Group, PCG, a group within the All Progressives’ Congress, APC supporting the presidential ambition of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has opened a campaign office in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

According to reports, members of the PCG include Dr Aliyu Kurfi who is the Chairman; Musa Liman (deputy chairman North), Dr Ebenezer Faji (deputy chairman South), Dr. Eli Eberechukwu Dibia (Vice-Chairman), Dr. Ahmed Muhammed (National Coordinator), Dr. Usman Ibrahim (Organizing Secretary) and Barrister Emmanuel Pippa (Publicity Secretary).

The new campaign office, the magazine learnt is located at No. 15b, Buchanan Crescent, off Aminu Kano, near Emab Plaza Wuse 2, Abuja.

Osinbajo has yet to declare his interest to run for the nation’s highest office, but rumour lingers that he’s interested in the top job, particularly as the party has decided to zone the presidency to the south.

The decision to zone the office to the south has elicited interest from APC politicians from the southern part of the country. Apart from Osinbajo, those said to be interested include Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos state Governor and APC National Leader, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state. The trio, however, have not declared their interest.

In spite of this, some APC leaders have been urging the vice president to run for the presidency to succeed his boss, President Muhamamdu Buhari and consolidate on his achievements.

Speaking on the campaign office, Emmanuel Pippa, PCG Publicity Secretary said in a statement that the campaign office said the campaign office was opened for Osinbajo’s presidential quest, even though without his approval.

Pippa said the campaign office was opened with the hope that Osinbajo will decide to vie for president.

Part of the statement reads, “we wish to clarify that the said office belongs to our coalition of support groups which strongly believes in Professor Osinbajo as the leader Nigeria needs in 2023, and is determined to get him to declare an interest in running for the office of President as early as possible.

“Solely for this purpose, our recently acquired administrative office is located in the heart of Wuse area of Abuja.

He said the vice president is not aware of PCG decision to open a campaign office for him, adding that the office will be used to coordinate all efforts at making Osinbajo’s presidency a reality.

According to Pippa, “even though Professor Osinbajo is yet to be acquainted with our activities, we intend to operate through a new organ, The Progressive Project TPP to coordinate youth, women and other groups across the federation.

“Ours is therefore not a campaign office but a venue for coordination, handling of an increasing volume of correspondence and meetings in readiness for the time when Vice President Yemi Osinbajo accedes to our request for him to run and consolidate gains made under President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Party chieftains will of course lead the real campaign when that time comes. Being a heartbeat away from the number one job, there are countless APC members and even, non-partisan citizens across the federation who are pushing for Professor Yemi Osinbajo to succeed or highly revered President Buhari, solely in the interest of the nation.

“We are convinced that Osinbajo’s level of familiarity with the vision, achievements, and challenges being handled by President Buhari is second to none and that such insight would enable a new APC administration to hit the ground running in 2023.

“We anticipate that various new and existing pro-Osinbajo platforms will become part of the group to which their focus appears more relevant”.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson to the vice president, Laolu Akande has described as fake, reports that Osinbajo has opened a campaign office to actualize his presidential ambition.