Northern governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have presented the names of five southern presidential aspirants to President Muhammadu Buhari for consideration as a consensus candidate.
This follows the governors’ resolution to zone the party’s presidential ticket to the south.
Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, confirmed on Tuesday that the shortlist includes Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu; Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; former transportation minister, Rotimi Amaechi; and Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi.
Lalong, however, noted that the shortlist will not bar other aspirants from contesting the primaries.
On Monday, the northern governors met with Buhari to officially inform him of their stance to zone the ticket to the south.
They met the president around the same time the APC national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, announced that President Buhari had endorsed Senate President Ahmed Lawan as the consensus candidate.
The Presidency immediately denied the announcement, saying that Buhari had not anointed any candidate.
