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For the third time , the South West leaders of the All Progressives Congress have failed to name a consensus presidential candidate few hours to the party’s convention.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the moves by the South West elders to come up with a consensus presidential aspirant for the region hit the rock as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu were reportedly adamant.
Another round of the meeting held by political leaders from the geopolitical zone on Sunday with a view to presenting a common front ahead of the presidential primary of the APC slated for Tuesday.
Promoters of the consensus move in the South West including former APC Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, and former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, had met with the aspirants at the residence of Chief Osoba.
The meeting, which was attended by the aspirants from the South West, governors and elders of the region ended without them reaching a consensus.
The duo of Akande and Osoba had last month met with the aspirants in Lagos, where it was agreed that they should conduct their electioneering campaigns devoid of hostility, free of rancour and in an amicable manner.
Another twist was introduced to the contest on Sunday as the duo of Osinbajo and Tinubu continued to intensify their consultations and engagements with delegates while the meeting was going on .
It was learnt that the aspirants from the South West region include Osinbajo, Tinubu, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, Ogun State Governor, Chief Dapo Abiodun, Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice and Pastor Tunde Bakare.
Sources said while some of the aspirants were ready to shift grounds, Osinbajo and Asiwaju are not.
“We expect both Asiwaju and VP to slug it out as efforts to persuade one of them to step down have not yielded results as of now,” a source who does not want to be named, hinted.
The duo of Akande and Osoba, who have been making efforts to arrive at a consensus among aspirants from the South West, have rejected several efforts to comment on the move.
The Director of Media & Communications, Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, said the party is looking forward to a free and fair contest at the convention.
“We are going into the convention for a free and fair contest. Everybody is looking out for a delegates’ election,” he said.
