Five Presidential Candidates That May Succeed Buhari

The 2023 general election is less than 14 months away and the race for who will succeed President Buhari has gotten intense. Some of the political bigwigs have publicly declared their interest, while some are still consulting. We have compiled a list of five presidential candidates that could succeed President Buhari in 2023.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

He is popularly referred to as Jagaban or the National Leader of the ruling APC. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not a pushover in the political arena. The former Governor of Lagos State played a key role in the emergence of President Buhari in 2015. His party, Action Congress of Nigeria, was a ruling party in the South-West before the merger that birth the ruling All Progressive Congress. The self-styled kingmaker has decided to join the race for the 2023 presidency. On Monday, 10th January 2022, Tinubu formally informed the President of his ambition to run for the number one seat in the country. While answering questions at the State House, the former senator said “I have informed the President of my ambition. I have not told Nigerians about it. I am still consulting.”

Professor Yemi Osibanjo

Professor Yemi Osibanjo (SAN), is the current Vice President, Chairman of the Economic Council, and the former Commissioner of Justice in Lagos State. The pastor cum lecturer will not be a walkover if he formally declares to join the race. Though he has not declared officially, sources close to him are, however, saying that he might decide to contest. During his visit to former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, in his country home, the Maradona of Nigerian politics endorsed his ambition. We are still awaiting the official declaration from Nigeria’s Vice President.

David Umahi

On Tuesday, 11th January 2022, the Ebonyi State Governor visited President Buhari to officially declare his ambition. It is believed that the former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State decamped to APC in 2020 after he was promised the presidential ticket of the party. Remember the spokesperson of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ndi Igbo, recently stated that the South-East region should take the number one seat for the sake of fairness and justice. Who knows? David Umahi might get the APC presidential ticket.

Atiku Abubakar

The Turaki of Adamawa has been contesting for the number one seat in the country unsuccessfully since 1993. He has contested five times with his last attempt at the 2019 general election. Though the former Nigerian Vice President has not officially declared his interest to run again in 2023, sources close to him are saying that he still has his eyes on becoming the country’s next president. The 75-year-old is currently consulting who is who before he formally declares his ambition.

Orji Uzor Kalu

The former Governor of Abia State is not an unknown face in Nigerian politics. He is currently the Chief Whip of the 9th Senate. He contested for the office of the President in 2007 under Progressive Peoples Alliance and he has not hidden his interest to run again. On Wednesday, 12th January 2022, the 64-year-old stated that he will consider contesting if his party, APC, micro zoned the Presidential ticket to the South-East.