As the All Progressive Congress, APC Presidential aspirants begin to count down in days ahead of the party primaries, they have launched the hunt for state delegates to support their emergence as the party candidate for the presidential elections.
It
is not debatable that among these candidates, Asiwaju is the independently
strongest of all the candidates. So far he has been running his campaign with
no reported backing of any godfather or force dictating for him in the
background. It can also be clearly stated that Asiwaju has gone far ahead of
other aspirants in the bid to canvass state delegates within the party.
For
those who don’t know, the total number of delegates across the APC states is
7,800. This means that the best of the candidates should be able to scoop no
fewer than 3,000 delegates from the lot and the rest would share the remains.
Going
by the list of states that have pledged their support and allegiance for
Asiwaju, he just might be carrying the party flag on May 31st as the party
presidential flag bearer. Below are the states that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
can ride on their delegates to victory at the primaries.
KANO
STATE
Kano
State has the highest number of delegates ahead of all the states of Nigeria
with 465 delegates. Luckily for Asiwaju, this is the base of his two northern
allies who are equally strong in Kano. Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and former
Governor Ibrahim Shekarau. Ganduje and Shekarau are both powerful in Kano
State. Both are considered staunch Tinubu supporters. Ganduje is the only
Governor who can be regarded to be as close to Tinubu as he is. Shekarau has
also stated to many that Kano State is sure for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. If
Asiwaju is able to secure Kano delegates, then he is on the coast to victory at
the primaries.
KATSINA
STATE
Aside
from the fact that Katsina shared a progressive bond with Lagos State, the
governor of Katsina State, Governor Aminu Bello Masari is a very good friend of
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. At some point, he was regarded as Asiwaju’s most
ardent supporter. With him governor Masari in charge, Katsina State would
undoubtedly be delivered for Asiwaju. Katsina State has the second-largest
number of delegates with a total of 384.
BORNO
STATE
Those
who are following the relationship of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu with, Prof
Zulum and Kassim Shettima, the predecessor to Prof Zulum, will not doubt the
depth of loyalty that they have for the Bourdillion Chief. Borno has 324
delegates and they just might fall in line for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
OSUN
STATE
Osun
State has been seen as the second home of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has
unilaterally made two governors in the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who is now
the Interior Minister, and the serving governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola.
The
Bola Ahmed Tinubu Our Choice (BATOC 2023), has also claimed that the delegates
of All Progressives Congress (APC), in Osun State, belonged to Bola Tinubu and
would deliver their votes to him in the presidential primary of the party.
The
secretary of the APC at the national level, Senator Iyiola Omisore is also from
the state. Osun has a total number of 308 delegates.
LAGOS
STATE
There
is no long talk as far as Lagos State is concerned. The 304 delegates from
Lagos state will go for no one else but Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The state
delegates belong to him.
OYO
STATE
Oyo
State has 292 delegates. The state is controlled by the People’s Democratic
Party, PDP and the minority of the APC are reportedly surviving by the
benevolence of Asiwaju. He is very much likely to clinch the state.
JIGAWA
STATE
Jigawa
State is the home of Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who is one of Asiwaju’s
core loyalists. The state’s former Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, who
was also an aspirant for the party chairmanship a couple of months ago has also
been in Asiwaju’s travel entourage. He has been a key mobilizer in most of
Asiwaju’s trips to the northern states to canvass for delegates’ support.
Jigawa State has 266 delegates.
NIGER
STATE
The
governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello has a soft spot for Asiwaju Bola
Ahmedn Tinubu. In fact, he was one of the early politicians who patronised
Asiwaju and tipped him for the presidency. Do you know that former governor and
senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu got his Asiwaju and Jagaban title from Niger State?
This explains the grip of Asiwaju on Niger State which has 251 delegates.
OGUN
STATE
We
can argue that Ogun State is the home of Asiwaju’s major contender in the race,
VP Yem Osinbajo, but the fact remains that Asiwaju equally has a strong force
within the state party structure. It is the structure that has the likes of
former governor Olusegun Osoba and former Governor Gbenga Daniel. Let’s not
also forget that former Governor Ibikunle Amosu who is the immediate past
governor also has his hold on Ogun Central. Asiwaju will surely break the
delegates and split it into three. He may probably get a larger share than the
other two contenders. Ogun State has 248 delegates.
NASARAWA
STATE
It
is no longer news that Asiwaju has the best chance of scooping the entire
delegates of Nasarawa State. It is also no longer news that the governor of the
state. Abdulahi Sule is an unrepentant supporter of Asiwaju. He proved this by
wearing Asiwaju’s signature cap to a State Executive Council Meeting not long
ago.
Nasarawa
has 245 delegates
With
these 1o state delegates and a few scoops here and there from other states,
Asiwaju will be the man to beat at the primaries. Let’s not forget that the
people of Gombe State have also assured Asiwaju that they will give him all of
their votes. In the end, the aspirant with the highest number of delegate
support may just be the anointed successor
0 Comments