Vice President Osinbajo formally declares intent to join race, Group Says presidency Win-Win for APC

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has Monday officially declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress putting to rest weeks and months of speculation.

The development comes after months of speculations over whether or not he will run for president.

In a video shared on his timeline on Twitter and Other Social Media platforms, he said: “I am today, with utmost humility formally declaring my intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of APC.”

He further said: “For the past seven (7) years, I have served as Vice President under a true Nigerian patriot, President Muhammadu Buhari.

“In these 7 years, while on the train of duty and service, I traversed every part of our country, meeting Nigerians of every cadre, class, tribe, and walk of life, both young and old; I MET YOU.

“I’ve stood where you stand and sat where you sit. I know and I understand our hopes, aspirations, and fears from a place of relatable proximity; and I believe that in those hopes and aspirations are the seeds for the great Nigeria that we all desire.

“I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights, and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and its great peoples.

“This is why today, with utmost humility, I formally declare my intention to run for the office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress.

“I also most solemnly and respectfully seek your support as fellow Nigerians everywhere in this land and the diaspora, as we embark on this great and exciting journey that lies ahead of us.”

Meanwhile, the reaction has continued to trail the Declaration of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo to run for the office of the President come 2023.

In Ekiti State, a group named Osinbajo Grassroot Organization staged a walk through the City Center to the Party Secretariat to State their Belief in the candidacy of the Vice President to lead the country from 2023

The leader of the group, Femi Adeleye says an Osinbajo Presidency is the best option for the APC to bring about sustainability and development as he reveals that groups have been clamouring for his emergence for over two years now, and meetings intensified in the last two weeks with threats to go to court if he does not run for the office

When asked about the clash of interest, especially with the earlier declaration of the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adeleye said the place of the National Leader in the APC cannot be disputed and there is no rivalry of any sort, insisting that Tinubu will work for the emergence of Professor Yemi Osinbajo at the primaries.

Reacting, the Party Representative says the most important thing at this time is the peaceful coexistence of members irrespective of loyalty to one candidate or the other, reiterating the importance of working together to ensure that the Southwest gets the slot at the Primaries.

It was observed that the ‘declaration video’ was distributed across Osinbajo’s social media handles.

With this announcement, Osinbajo will be gunning for the APC ticket against presidential hopefuls including former Lagos Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Ebonyi Governor Dave Umahi; Senator Rochas Okorocha; Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, and Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi.

Osinbajo, who turned 65 last month, is a senior advocate of Nigeria and a former lecturer at the University of Lagos.

He is also a senior pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG).