Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s Vice President has denied reports that he plans to declare his intention to run for president ahead of the 2023 elections after the All Progressives Congress Convention slated for February 26, 2021.
Earlier on Monday, there were reports that Osinbajo would announce his presidential bid for 2023.
However, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said the report is false and speculative.
He added that any information on the action of the Vice President would come directly from his office and not the press.
Laolu tweeted late Monday, “I’ve seen “news” that VP’ll announce presidential bid after APC’s convention. Anyone reading the story‘ll know it’s all false and speculative snippets.
“Any information on activities and actions of the VP will come directly from his office and not sponsored speculations in the press.”
Previous reports have claimed that Osinbajo is nursing a presidential ambition and was only waiting for the appropriate time to make public his intention.
In May 2021, Akande had described such reports as “unhelpful permutations,” adding that his principal was “focused on working in his capacity as Vice President in the current administration to address all the compelling issues in the country and concerns of Nigerians, including finding effective and lasting solutions to the security challenges.”
Meanwhile, Osinbajo may square up with his former boss and APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for the party’s presidential ticket in the event that he decides to join the 2023 presidential race.
Tinubu, a two-time former Lagos State governor, had informed President Muhammadu Buhari about his ambition to succeed him in 2023.
Some analysts believe that the vice president, who served as a commissioner when Tinubu was Lagos governor, had deliberately delayed his declaration for president to avoid clashing with his former boss.