As Predicted, Ebonyi State Governor Umahi Declares for Nigerian Presidency

On Oct 1, 2018, I wrote: “By this time in 2022, APC will select Bola Tinubu as the presidential flagbearer of the party for Election 2023. Mr. Tinubu will select a retiring governor from the southeast as his running mate. The main goal is to quench any agitation that 2023 will be the turn for southeast.

“The present governor of Ebonyi state will likely be his running mate. Engr David Umahi will win with PDP in 2019 but will decamp to APC shortly. His “friendship” comment on President Buhari was not a lapse.

“Largely, the best time to decamp as a governor is during the second term as you may not have to face any regional election. Decamping will be very popular because in my model, I expect Buhari to win in 2019 if he continues to show physical energy as he has recently demonstrated.”

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, has declared for the Presidency. I extended that prediction in Nov 2020 thus: ‘ Engr Umahi will run for the presidency on the APC platform. He will lose. Then Tinubu will select him as his running mate. As I wrote in 2018, “Tinubu/Umahi will be formidable”. And from all indications, APC will move power to the southwest.’

(I will modulate that ticket now because Borno state Governor Zulum seems positioned depending on what the party does. I expect him to get a Vice Presidential slot depending on what happens between Tinubu and Umahi. I consider both the frontrunners in the South)

Please note, when I write, it does not mean that I support or endorse; I am simply making calls based on my understanding of Nigerian politics.  In university, I ran an election and WON. Sure, Nigerian politics is complex. See this as academic for a political junkie!

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