Osinbajo seeks Senators’ support, invites APC Reps
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, have stepped up efforts to lobby state governors ahead of the party’s presidential primaries.
Groups supporting both presidential candidates told our correspondents in separate interviews on Tuesday that the Vice-President and the APC national leader would hold more meetings with the governors in the days ahead.
This came to the fore on Tuesday as Osinbajo invited members of the APC caucus in the House of Representatives for a private meeting and dinner at the Presidential Villa barely three weeks after the 307-member caucus publicly endorsed Tinubu.
The Vice-President had on Sunday met the governors to inform them of his plan to vie for the APC presidential ticket. On Monday, he formally declared his ambition.
Last year when he was in London on medical leave, the members of the northern caucus of the APC in the House of Representatives visited Tinubu where some of them described him as “Mr President.”
However, Osinbajo, on Tuesday, met with members of the APC caucus in the Senate. He would meet with the House of Representatives Caucus on Wednesday. The House is led by Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, a political godson of Tinubu who is also an active member of his campaign team.
The Chairman, Committee on Finance, James Faleke, who is also the Convener of the Tinubu Support Group, said that Tinubu remained the candidate of the APC caucus in the House.
Faleke, who represents Ikeja federal constituency, added that he would not be attending the Vice-President’s dinner.
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains our candidate. I will not be attending the meeting,” Faleke stated.
Earlier at the plenary on Tuesday, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, had read out a notice from the Majority Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, notifying the APC caucus of Osinbajo’s breaking of Ramadan fast (Iftar) and Easter with the lawmakers.
The Iftar/Easter dinner was scheduled for 6.30 pm at the Aguda House, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Also on Tuesday, Osinbajo invited the APC caucus in the House to the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa for the Iftar dinner on Wednesday.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Ahmed Wase, read the Vice-President’s letter through the Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, at the opening of plenary on Tuesday.
The letter to the House caucus read, “In the spirit of the Holy Month of Ramadan, it will be my great pleasure to host you and all members of the APC caucus in the House of Representatives to the Iftar/Easter dinner on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.
“It is proposed that members arrive at 6.30 pm, hence arrangements would be made for prayer at the State House Banquet Hall which is also the event venue.
“I will appreciate your very kind assistance in conveying this invitation to all concerns, including persons who are equally welcome to join us for the dinner.”
Also on Tuesday, groups loyal to Tinubu and Osinbajosaid that they were sure of the governors’ support.
