2011: Buhari, Jonathan, Tinubu Battle For South-West

Posted by admin Elections 2011, South-West Friday, February 11th, 2011

PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd),

has drawn a battle line between him and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) over the soul of the South-West in the April elections.

Buhari has set up a strategic committee to work out plans aimed at amassing support of the zone and creating an electoral upset.

PDP won five out of the six gubernatorial seats in the controversial 2007 elections. However, only Ogun and Oyo states are left in its kitty, following the judgments of election tribunals concerning the governorship seats in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states, while the ACN had consolidated its hold on Lagos State since 1999.

Saturday Tribune learnt that Buhari had resolved to kick-start his presidential campaigns in the South-West, ostensibly to give the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led ACN and President Goodluck Jonathan a good run for their money.

The decision may have partly been due to choice of the Lagos cleric, Pastor Tunde Bakare, as the running mate to the Katsina State-born former leader.

A source told Saturday Tribune, on Friday, that details of the campaign programme were expected to be announced in the coming week.

It was learnt that a special committee put in place by CPC top hierarchy was busy at the weekend trying to put finishing touches to the programme and other related events.

Spokesman for General Buhari, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, declined to give details of the programme when contacted.

Though it could not be confirmed at press time, a source within the CPC leadership said Lagos was favoured to host the inauguration of Buhari’s presidential campaign for what he called strategic reasons.

Oyo, which is widely regarded as the political headquarters of Yorubaland, and Ogun, the home state of Bakare, were also said to have been considered as possible venue for the takeoff of the campaign.

-Tribunewp_posts