Lawan, Jigawa gov, other northerners in APC to declare presidential ambition

After months of staying away from the jostling that has characterised the presidential race of the party, there are now indications that some northern politicans in the All Progressives Congress will join the contest for the highest office in the land.

Chief of those already mulling such idea is Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, according to The PUNCH.

Also in the mix is governor Mohammed Badaru of Jigawa State, he’s expected to declare his intention soon.

With Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State already in the race, the number of northern aspirants is expected to rise to three or four.

Sources who are familiar with the development disclosed that a bloc in the APC was behind the drive for more presidential aspirants of northern extraction in the party.

According to the sources, it will serve as a cushion against some top northern politicians in the Peoples Democratic Party.

An APC chieftain said, “The North has the numbers and this is what the PDP is trying to take advantage of. As it is, the APC is trying to be very careful and that is why the party is refusing to make its position known on zoning.

“If we in the APC pick a southern candidate and the PDP picks a core northern candidate, then the APC stands a chance of losing the election especially if the South is not united.”

The source added that ideally, the President Muhammadu Buhari would have preferred the South-West to get the Presidential ticket because the South-West is the largest base of the party in the South.