By With about two weeks left to the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), about 25 aspirants have submitted their expression of interest and nomination forms.
While figures like former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are largely considered to be the leading aspirants in the race, the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina has also been listed among presidential hopefuls under the ruling party.
A presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad made this known in a tweet on Saturday.
“Bola Tinubu, Yemi Osinbajo, Akin Adesina, Rotimi Amaechi, Ahmad Lawan and 20 other presidential aspirants contesting under our great party, the APC returned their expression of interest and nomination forms,” he wrote.
Bola Tinubu, Yemi Osinbajo, Akin Adesina, Rotimi Amaechi, Ahmad Lawan and 20 other presidential aspirants contesting under our great party, the APC returned their expression of interest and nomination forms.
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) May 14, 2022
It would be recalled that last week, a coalition made up of 28 groups procured the APC forms pegged at N100m for Adesina, urging him to join the race for the nation’s top job.
Speaking with journalists after the purchase, one of the leaders of the group, Ademola Babatunde said they put their resources together to purchase the form for the AfDB boss.
He was quoted as saying, “We are 28 groups precisely that came together after a very serious consultation, deliberations on the way forward for a better and united Nigeria.
“We unanimously decided that though the money is outrageous, if we truly want a better future for ourselves and our children and our land of birth and soil of origin, we must put our resources together to obtain the forms for Dr Akinwumi Adesina.”
The 62-year-old Adesina served as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development during the tenure of former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
He is, however, yet to formally announce his interest in the 2023 presidential race, amid reports that he may shun the APC screening for presidential aspirants billed to hold today.
