Ahead of the February 25, 2023 Presidential Election, a major power bloc in the two leading political parties are confused and undecided on how and where to pitch their support.
This development has left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that has 35 of the 36 Governors in a state of uncertainty few months to the general elections.
Global Upfront Newspapers (GUN) investigations show that the loyalty and support of the Governors in their various parties is very much in doubt and the candidates are aware of the unfortunate situation.
None of the candidates of the two key parties can guarantee the support of most of their Governors, Bola Ahmad Tinubu is not sure of APC’s 22 Governors, ditto Atiku Abubakar of PDP is battling to get the support of at least half of the PDP’s 13 State Governors.
GUN learnt that even though it was APC Governors that facilitated the emergence of Tinubu as its flag bearer at the June national Presidential party primary, some of them have turned their back on him. Most Northern APC Governors supported Tinubu in the hope of being made running mate but he turned their back on them and went for a former Governor instead.
The anger of this snub is still with the Governors who are now trading with their support between the four leading candidates – Tinubu, Atiku, Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Dr Rabiu Kwakwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Aside the snub, GUN learnt that the worrisome health development of the APC candidate is putting them off even though some of them believe that it’s not a disadvantage as it could open way for a Northerner to return to power in the event of death or incapacitation.
But some Southern APC Governors are watching the situation with the hope of jumping out of the ship if it’s sinking.
The APC Governors’ confusion, GUN found out, multiplied after their meeting last month with President Muhammedu Buhari whom they approached for counsel and support but instead they met an unbiased statesman than a party bigot they were expecting.
The President had instead of sharing with the Governors who had gone to seek his support and counsel, read riot act that he will not compromise free, fair and credible elections. And that his regime will respect Nigerians and prevent anybody trying to use position or wealth influence to undermine the electoral process.
GUN Political Correspondent who has been monitoring the situation closely reports that the situation is even more precarious in PDP where the irrepressible Rivers State Governor, Nysom Wike, is leading a revolt that has diametrically polarized the Governors and other PDP leaders.
Governor Wike’s group of five Governors of Abia, Enugu, Benue and Oyo plus himself have refused to be part of their candidate, not until the party’s National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu resigns.
GUN learnt that aside the grievances of the Governors arising from the mutual agreement that Ayu should leave if a Northerner emerges the party’s Presidential flag bearer, he is also accused by the rebelling Governors of high corruption and to have visibly abused his power by openly showing bias for a particular candidate instead of being neutral which the office demands during the contest.
But rather than yield to the demands of the Governors, the candidate, Atiku, apparently controlled by ego, is going ahead with Ayu but at a huge electoral cost of losing some votes.
These rebelling Governors are on their part engaged in serious horse trading with the other two leading candidates, Peter Obi of Labour and Tinubu of APC.