Nigeria’s Vice President Osinbajo Finally Declares His Intention To Run For President’s Post

Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday officially declared his intentions to run for the post of president, ending months of speculations and denials, reported The BBC.

” I formally declare my intention to run for the office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress,” Osinabjo said in a short broadcast video posted to his social media handles on Monday morning.

Osinbajo has served a tenure of about seven years as vice president to President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he described as a “true Nigerian patriot”.

He said he and Buhari spent the last seven years working through some of the most difficult times in Nigeria’s history, focusing on securing the country, providing infrastructure, and growing its economy.

Osinbajo said the vice president’s post has given him the opportunities to understand the “diverse experiences and yearnings” of Nigerians. He also served as acting President for more than 120 non-consecutive days while Buhari was on medical leave in London between 2016 and 2018.

“In these seven years, I have served the government in several capacities and I have, at the direction of Mr. President, represented our country in sensitive high-level international engagements.

The 65-year-old Osinbajo was appointed Attorney-General of Lagos State in 1999 by then Governor, Bola Tinubu, and held the position till 2007. He was nominated as Buhari’s running mate in 2014 and was elected alongside Buhari in 2015.

Osinbajo will be contesting the presidential election against Bola Tinubu; the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

Buhari has not said if he will support Osinbajo.

Nigeria’s political parties are required to select their presidential candidates by June 3. Official campaigning will begin in September, according to the country’s electoral commission.

With Buhari set to step down after serving two four-year terms, the February 2023 election is expected to be a hotly contested affair.