Reports that Nigeria’s vice president Yemi Osinbajo will announce his bid to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari after the convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress were false, his spokesman said on Monday.
“Anyone reading the story will know it’s all false and speculative snippets,” Osinbajo spokesman Laolu Akande said.
“Any information on activities and actions of the VP will come directly from his office and not sponsored speculations in the press.”
ThisDay, citing an anonymous source close to Osinbajo, claimed the vice president would formally declare to run for president after the APC convention. The convention is holding on February 26.
ThisDay also claimed that Osinbajo, a pastor, has informed the general overseer of his church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and has received his blessings.
A similar report was published by Daily Independent.
While Akande dismissed the reports as “sponsored” and “speculative,” rumours are, however, rife that Osinbajo is planning a presidential bid of his own.
If he eventually does, he has to battle the former Lagos State governor and a leader of the ruling party Bola Tinubu for the APC ticket.
Osinbajo and Tinubu are allies. In fact, Osinbajo once credited Tinubu for his becoming Nigeria’s vice president.
“This explains why gathered here today is a serving Vice President, several governors, former governors, commissioners, and former commissioners, ministers, former ministers, local government functionaries, social agitators, top career journalists who can trace their careers and political trajectories to Asiwaju’s leadership,” the vice president said the 12th Bola Tinubu Colloquium in March 2021.
While Tinubu has said that he has informed President Buhari of his presidential ambition, Osinbajo has not made any public pronouncement.
His aide said he is focusing on his duties as a vice president.
“The VP continues focusing all his attention on the work of this administration and on supporting Mr President in every possible way.”
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