Former Osun State Governor and pioneer national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bisi Akande, has revealed that ex-President Muhammadu Buhari was not comfortable with his Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, contesting against Bola Tinubu for the party’s presidential ticket in the 2022 primaries.
Akande made this disclosure in a podcast interview with journalist Edmund Obilo, where he discussed the internal politics of the APC during the build-up to the 2023 presidential election.
Buhari Denied Backing Osinbajo Against Tinubu
Akande recalled that despite efforts to prevent a bitter rivalry among Yoruba contenders, Osinbajo did not step down for Tinubu. However, he dismissed speculations that Buhari actively supported Osinbajo’s candidacy.
“I asked him many questions, including whether he instigated Osinbajo to contest against Tinubu. He said no and explained that, in his culture, when your mentor is interested in a position, you don’t contest with him,” Akande said.
Tinubu’s Victory in the APC Presidential Primaries
During the APC Special National Convention in Abuja, Tinubu secured a landslide victory, polling 1,271 votes to clinch the party’s ticket. He defeated 13 other aspirants, including Osinbajo, to emerge as the APC flag-bearer for the 2023 general elections.
Akande’s revelation sheds more light on the power dynamics within the APC and how Buhari navigated the contest between his deputy and his longtime ally, Tinubu.
