Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has stepped up efforts to lobby state governors ahead of the party’s presidential primaries.
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.
On Sunday, the Vice-President met with the governors to inform them of his plan to run for the 2023 presidential election. On Monday, he officially declared his ambition.
However, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress and presidential aspirant, Bola Tinubu who declared his ambition in January, met with the governors in Abuja on the same day.
Recall that. last year, when Tinubu was in London on medical leave, the members of the northern caucus of the APC in the House of Representatives visited him where some of them described him as “Mr President.”
As the battle rages on, Osinbajo, Tuesday, met with members of the APC caucus in the Senate. He also met, yesterday, with the House of Representatives Caucus.. The House was led by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, a political godson of Tinubu who is also an active member of his campaign team.
A Source close to our correspondent disclosed that some of the members loyal to Tinubu may not honour Osinbajo’s invitation.
The Chairman, Committee on Finance, James Faleke, who is also the Convener of the Tinubu Support Group, told The NIGERIAN OBSERVER 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, a letter of notification was read out by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, which came from the Majority Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, informing 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, 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 Osinbajo told our correspondent that the support of the governors is unwavering.
