APC Governors Resolve To Back Tinubu-Shettima Ticket, As President Buhari Intervenes

By Ayodele Oni

At last, and after an intervention by President Mohammadu Buhari, Governors of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) buried their anger and endorsed the choice of former Borno state Governor, Kassim Shettima as running mate to Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the party.

The Governors on Monday paid a Sallah homage to President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Daura.

The Governors were reported to have earlier expressed reservations on the choice of Shettima, a Muslim like Tinubu and refusal to carry them along in the course of the search.

The Governors felt one of them, especially Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai,  would emerge as Tinubu’s choice.

After a closed door meeting with the President, the Governors said they were pleased with Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s choice of Kassim Shettima as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.

The Governors described Shettima as one of Nigeria’s finest.

In the entourage were Aminu Masari of Katsina, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Abubakar Bello of Niger, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Simon Lalong of Plateau and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa.

Speaking after the meeting, Bagudu said a Tinubu-Shettima Presidency will complement all the achievements of the last seven years under President Muhammadu Buhari.

Bagudu further revealed that the APC Governors Forum is working hard to win the upcoming Osun Governorship election.

On his part, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma described the choice of Shettima as a collective decision.

He noted that the 22 governors of the APC will deliver 22 States in the upcoming 2023 general elections.