*Associates pick forms for Lawan, say PDP driving APC to discard zoning

*Fulani group buys forms for Jonathan

*Orji Kalu backs Lawan, says he can’t run without zoning to S-East

*Bakare unveils 4-point agenda

*30 aspirants pick forms

*Adamu seeks prayers to succeed, promises level-playing field for all aspirants

By Clifford Ndujihe, Henry Umoru, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Omeiza Ajayi & David Odama, LAGOS

The race to clinch the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential ticket got more interesting yesterday with the entrance of former President Goodluck Jonathan; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade; and Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva.

Various groups and supporters of the quartet obtained the N100 million nomination and expression of interest forms for them.

Apart from intensifying the jostle for the APC ticket amid contestations over zoning, the emergence of Jonathan, Lawan and Sylva, has raised further puzzles over President Muhammadu Buhari’s perceived anointed successor.

Recently, President Buhari said he would not disclose his preferred successor because if he did, the person would be killed.

Of late, fingers had been pointed in the direction of many aspirants as the would-be-anointed candidate. Also, no fewer than five aspirants had at one time or the other been presumed to be the anointed one.

They include Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of State for Education, Chief Emeka Nwajiuba; Science and Technology Minister, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; African Development Bank, AfDB, President, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina; and Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

Yesterday, the number of those perceived as the preferred choice rose to eight with the emergence of Jonathan, Lawan and Sylva.

Political associates of Lawan under the aegis of the National Stability Project, NSP, led by Chief Sam Nkire, who is a member of the National Caucus of the APC as well as pioneer caucus leader of Abia APC, and 15 serving senators, purchased the form for the senator, who represents Yobe North in the Senate, saying they have Lawan’s backing to buy the forms on his behalf.

Also, while a group of Fulani herdsmen and Almajirai picked the forms for Jonathan, some APC faithful under the aegis of Northern Solidarity Group, NSG, obtained the forms for Sylva.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/05/puzzles-as-jonathan-lawan-sylva-ayade-join-race-for-apc-ticket/

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