APC Explains Reason Buhari Insisted Osinbajo Should Not Be Included In Tinubu’s Campaign List

The All Progressive Congress has explained the reason behind the exclusion of vice president of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo from the list of campaign council of its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima for the 2023 election.

The 422- man list, which was released on Saturday, has continued to elicit reactions from many Nigerians especially with the non-inclusion of key leaders of the party. 

Three people whose names were not included and literally rang a loud bell are professor Yemi Osinbajo, vice president of Nigeria, Ahmed Lawan, Senate president and Rotimi Amaechi who is the former Minister of Transportation and also contested against Tinubu during the party’s primary.

While Amaechi was listed as an ordinary member, Osinbajo and Lawan’s name were conspicuously missing from the list.

While reacting to the development in a press statement, the Spokesman of Tinubu Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo disclosed that it was president Muhammadu Buhari that specifically gave an order that Osinbajo’s name should not be included in the list.

Buhari is the chairman of the campaign council while Tinubu is vice chairman. National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu and vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima are both deputy chairman 1 and deputy chairman 2 of the campaign council.

Explaining why Osinbajo’s name was missing on the list, the Minister of state for Labour and Employment revealed that the vice president and secretary to the government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha were not included so that they can concentrate on the business of governance. 

Keyamo said the order was given by president Muhammadu Buhari.

He said:

“Our attention has been drawn to some stories making the rounds that there may be something amiss within the family of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the name of our own revered and respected Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, is not included in the list of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.”

“Nothing can be farther from the facts. For the avoidance of doubt, President Muhammadu Buhari , GCFR, is the Chairman of the Campaign Council. As a result, Mr. President has SPECIFICALLY directed that the Vice-President and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha should be left out of the Campaign Council to concentrate on the governance of the country and administration of Government.

 “As a responsible Party and Government, all the key functionaries of government cannot abandon their positions for electioneering campaigns. The APC has the mandate of the Nigerian people to administer the country on their behalf at least till May, 29, 2023, and this we intend to do with all sense of responsibility.”