It made headlines that former Senate President, Bukola Saraki declared bid to contest for President of Nigeria in 2023....CONTINUE READING
Saraki is a top chieftain of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Many people may be wondering why Saraki declared bid to contest for the post of President of Nigeria at a time many Nigerians are demanding for power shift to South since the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari is from the same Northern region where Saraki hails from. This article will discuss three factors that can favour Saraki in his bid despite the push for power shift among other odds. 2023: Saraki declares intention to run for president
(1). Saraki’s bid can be favoured by PDP’s approval for Northerners to also contest for the post. Initially, many people felt that PDP will disallow Northerners from contesting for President under its platform since a Northerner, Iyorchia Ayu, emerged the National Chairman-Elect. But, even before Ayu’s emergence, the PDP gave the Northerners the nod to also contest for President if they want. With this, Saraki stands an equal chance of winning the PDP’s presidential ticket unlike when he would have been prevented if the party had zoned the ticket specifically to the South. Luckily, Ayu is from North Central where Saraki hails from. This can also boost Saraki’s chances of winning the ticket if Ayu and others decide to back him.
(2). North Central leaders are making moves to back one of them to become the President in 2023 since they have not produced Nigeria’s President since 1960. This is one of the basis why Saraki believed that he stands a chance in the race. According to a report by Daily Trust, leaders and people of North Central are pushing hard to back someone from the region to become President in 2023.
So far, Saraki is the only top politician from the North Central that has declared to run for President. The move by the people from his zone to get a President from North Central can favour Saraki. They also argue that nobody from North Central has ever emerged President or even Vice President since 1960 when Nigeria became independent. They are demanding a sense of belonging and calling on other zones to back them to make it work.
(3). Saraki’s political influence and roles in PDP in Nigeria can also favour his bid. Saraki is among the influential bigwigs in PDP. He has many loyalists and political allies too. Apart from that, he has been very active in PDP and has been playing crucial roles for the party. It would be recalled that he conceded defeat in PDP primary in 2019 and went on to accept to be the Director General of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar campaign. He played other roles including helping to resolve the crisis in the party. Political parties have a way for rewarding active, valuable and supportive party members when they seek political offices. This factor may also favour Saraki.
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