Former governor of Anambra Mr. Peter Obi, on Thursday, declared his intention to run for president in 2023. The declaration comes after heightened anticipation as he has been touted as the best choice among others who have announced their intention to lead Nigeria.
“Dear Nigerians, I am here to inform you all that I will be aspiring for the post of president of Nigeria in 2023,” Mr. Obi tweeted on Thursday.
Mr. Obi was the running mate of former vice president Mr. Atiku Abubakar, who lost to Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election. Mr. Atiku had earlier declared his interest to run for president once again, for the fifth time. Both of them declaring interest in running for president this time puts their political party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in a tight position.
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The two major political parties in Nigeria, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the PDP have been put under pressure by Southern governors’ decision to choose their presidential flag bearers from the South. The Southern governors had last year, in a bipartisan decision, agreed that the 2023 presidential candidates must come from the South.
While the APC has made the decision, the PDP is yet to say if it’s going by the North to South zoning. This, many believe will make PDP’s primary election a tight contest.
Last month, Mr. Atiku had bragged that he stood the best chance to win a ticket. “Have I ever failed to win the ticket? I’m confident,” he said.
Tired of years of failed leadership by old people, Nigerians, among other things, are clamoring for a younger president in 2023, and Mr. Obi 60, who is 15 years younger than Mr. Atiku Abubakar, appears to be the real deal.
“Peter Obi’s race is our own. We will queue, donate, mobilize grassroots, sponsor radio & T jingles & spread the word on the streets. Peter is not hero or the messiah. But with him, you & I will have that fighting chance. That’s a simple message. JOIN US IN THE MOVEMENT,” Nefertiti, a Nigerian Twitter user tweeted.
However, while there has been teeming support for Mr. Obi in the South, his chance of winning the PDP’s ticket is said to depend on the party’s bigwigs. When it comes to credibility, Mr. Obi is believed to be miles ahead of other candidates, especially Mr. Atiku, whose presidential ambition has been accompanied by allegations of corruption. However, Mr. Obi’s popularity is said to be limited to the South, which may scuttle the PDP’s chance of winning the election as a presidential aspirant needs also to be popular in the North in order to win.
The governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, who has also expressed interest in running for president under the PDP, said the party should forget about zoning and give the ticket to who has what it takes to tick the box.
“I’m appealing to party that we should be talking about how to win the election. Not just zoning of where the president is coming from,” he said.
It is not clear if the PDP has the intention of zoning its ticket to the South – that would eliminate northern aspirants and broaden Mr. Obi’s chances.