A group, the All Progressive Congress Stakeholders Forum, from the nineteen northern states, have stated that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may likely win the Presidential election if the APC makes a mistake in its choice of running mate.
The National Chairman of the group, Abdullahi Katsina, who stated this during a press briefing in Minna, said Atiku was a big challenge, being a candidate of the northern extraction.
He stated that the only way to neutralise the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate was by ensuring that a credible and sellable candidate was fielded alongside Bola Tinubu.
“Atiku is a serious challenge in 2023. If he had about 12 million votes in 2019, then that’s a lot and we don’t know how many Tinubu will garner because this is his first time. So, since the north is the determining factor, we are looking for a well accepted person,” he said.
He also warned that winning the party primary was one thing, while the main task ahead was to win the general election, adding that only a candidate like Babagana Zulum as a Vice Presidential candidate could offer the needed victory.
“The 2023 presidential election is important and critical and we need someone to give a good fight from the north as a result of his antecedent.
“Professor Babagana Zulum has proved his worth with his quality of leadership. We have conducted random surgery in the 19 northern states and about 80 per cent of the people prefer Zulum to be the vice presidential candidate,” Aliyu stated.
He called on Zulum to put the interest of the Nation and the party at heart and accept to be the Vice Presidential candidate of the APC.
“Yes, we know he said he doesn’t want to because he still has work to do in his state, but we appeal to him to accept, if he is indeed a patriotic Nigerian and a loyal APC member, because this is a call to save the country and the party,” Aliyu added.
