The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has been urged by a number of presidential candidates from opposition political parties running in the 2023 elections to convince President Bola Tinubu to include them in his administration.
Ambassador Felix Johnson Osakwe, a presidential candidate for the National Rescue Movement (NRM), addressed on behalf of the Forum of Concern Presidential Candidates and stated that since they supported peace, Tinubu should include them in his administration.
In attendance at the meeting with Ganduje on Thursday in Abuja were representatives from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Action Democratic Party (ADP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), and Action Peoples Party (APP), among others.
He said that the opposition candidates supported peace and Nigeria’s development, which is why they declined to contest Tinubu’s victory in court.
In his own words, the crowd said, “We are here, sir, not only to see Mr. President; number one is to be identified with you and to thank God for your appointment; number two, we see you as a father, sir, who has served as a Commander-in-Chief of a state, and here you are today to be the pilot that will lead the presidential candidate, particularly those who are ready and who love this country and the interest of this country before politics and before parties.
“That you will be the ideal person to lead us to meet with Mr. President, so that he can hear our own ideas in person and also so that he can realise that it is not just the presidential candidate that is against him.
“Since this is Nigeria and there is nowhere else for us to go, we have decided against going to court.
“So, we’re here to thank you, God, and everyone here, and to say that as presidential candidates, there is something we can offer this country, and I believe with a government of inclusion, it will be necessary in terms like this,” said one of the candidates.
In response, Ganduje pledged to share their opinions with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
I’ll share your requests and opinions, he stated. And I’ll see to it that you and the President agree. I appreciate your loyalty to the parties you support. What I am witnessing is a political candidate who unintentionally entered the race for president. Due to his lack of a party, he took over another party to become a presidential contender.
