Will Tambuwal Give Up His Reported Presidential Ambition After Wike Backed Another Person?
by The Ajasa News | January 17, 2022 7:37 pm
One of the politicians that may contest for President in 2023 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State.
Tambuwal had given the post a shot in 2019 when he vied for PDP’s presidential ticket, But, he and others lost to a former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who won the ticket. Then in 2019, Tambuwal enjoyed the heavy backing of his friend and political ally, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. That could be the reason he came second in the race for the PDP ticket which Atiku won.
Fast forward to this year 2022, Wike surprised many people when he seemed to have turned his back on his ally by openly backing another person for the ticket. It made headlines days ago that Wike openly backed Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State to get the PDP presidential ticket. The Rivers Governor went ahead to express the optimism that the chances of PDP winning the 2023 presidential election is brighter if Mohammed wins the ticket.
Will Tambuwal give up his bid to run in 2023?
The answer is not very certain as Tambuwal has not finally decided. However, there is more possibility that Tambuwal may drop his presidential ambition for some reasons. These reasons will be discussed.
One, he is reportedly eyeing the post of Senate President. This was revealed by an insider who stated that Tambuwal may prefer to go to the Senate instead based on some political calculations. The summary is that he has better chances of becoming the Senate President if PDP wins the presidential election in 2023.
Again, the North-West zone where he hails from may not get the PDP presidential ticket in 2023. This is because late President Yar’Adua was from Katsina State in the North West and he ruled for 3 years before he died. Then, President Muhammadu Buhari also from Katsina State in the same zone would be completing his eight years in 2023. It would not be fair for the same North West to still get the presidential ticket in 2023. The ticket is most likely going to the South or any other zone in the North such as North East or North Central.
Finally, Wike and PDP Governors do not seem to back Tambuwal for the post. While Wike backed Mohammed, other PDP Governors prefer that the ticket should go to the South in 2023. If they finally adopt the option of the ticket going to the South, Wike would also back it because that was the first thing the Southern PDP Governors pushed for when the party zoned the post of PDP National Chairman to the North. Based on these points, Tambuwal may drop his alleged presidential ambition except if he chooses to contest against all odds.
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