Presidential Primary: Lawan, Bello, Nwajiuba, others dumped as APC Govs, NWC prune aspirants to five

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) have pruned the number of presidential aspirants for today’s primaries to five.

The decision which was taken in the early hours of Tuesday following intense consultations and deliberations as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari, Persecondnews gathered.

The top five aspirants recommended for the party are former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), former Transportation Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Ebonyi, Dave Umahi and Ekiti Gov. Kayode Fayemi.

Those axed by the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun Screening Committee are Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, and Chief Emeka Nwajiuba.

Persecondnews had reported on Monday that the party’s National Chairman. Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, announced Lawan as the party’s consensus candidate “after consultations with President Buhari”.

Speaking on behalf of the governors, Mr. Simon Lalong of Plateau State debunked the claim of the Chairman.

Also, 11 Northern APC Governors at the weekend had urged the party leadership to zone the presidency to the South.