Convention Update: 12 APC Governors Have Endorsed Buhari

From sources at the venue of the Lagos convention, it's looking like a two-horse race between General Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The battle for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken another dimension as 12 APC governors reached a final agreement to support Buhari while his counterpart, Atiku is said to have taken his destiny into his hands by reaching out directly to the delegates for votes.

At the meeting, which took place at Adeola Odeku, Victoria Island, Lagos, the governors who agreed to support Buhari are: Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).

Atiku, on this part, is basing his calculations on the fact that APC governors control only 14 states and their influence in the remaining 22 states is not strong...

The two other governors, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo), are also gunning for the presidential ticket. It was also disclosed that Kwankwaso has been persuaded to step down for Buhari, which he agreed, but will still put up an appearance without putting up a fight at the convention.

According to Vanguard, it was gathered that Atiku has zeroed in on delegates from the 16 states which they consider winnable: Adamawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Benue, Plateau, Bauchi, Jigawa, Taraba, Yobe, Delta, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Ekiti and Ondo ─ as well as the FCT. 

In Atiku’s camp, the calculation is to deal directly with the delegates, even from states controlled by pro-Buhari governors. With Atiku’s heavy war chest, the APC hierarchy had become jittery about the obviously very high possibility of his victory.