APC ticket: Rumpus in Tinubu’s camp over Tambuwal

Tinubu who controls the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) bloc within the party, is believed to have turned his back on General Muhammadu Buhari since the defection of Tambuwal to the APC.The initial arrangement within the ACN bloc is that Buhari should be supported for the presidential ticket of the party due to the […]

Tinubu who controls the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) bloc within the party, is believed to have turned his back on General Muhammadu Buhari since the defection of Tambuwal to the APC.
The initial arrangement within the ACN bloc is that Buhari should be supported for the presidential ticket of the party due to the massive support he enjoys in the North while the ACN bloc should be allowed to produce the vice presidential candidate.
Our correspondents however learnt that since Tambuwal joined the APC, more of the party chieftains from the South West have expressed sentiments in favour of changing the calculation to support Tambuwal on grounds that re-presenting Buhari would not pose fresh challenges to the PDP.
The defunct ACN having supported the emergence of Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011 is also believed to be more disposed towards supporting the speaker due to the cordial relationship between them.
A group that identified itself as the Concerned ACN Stakeholders in APC yesterday warned Tinubu in a letter copied to the party’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to desist from supporting Tambuwal for the presidential ticket of the party, saying if Tinubu does not withdraw from the course of action, it would spell disaster for the party at the general elections.
The group which said it learnt that Tinubu has been pushing for Tambuwal’s candidacy in the letter signed by one Tayo Agunbiade said it believes that out of all the presidential aspirants in the party, Buhari remains the only hope for defeating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
“As you are aware, we have gone deep with the Buhari campaign and indeed agree with you that he is indeed a good candidate.
“Our leader Sir, the recent development of your turning away from General Muhammadu Buhari and indeed all the other presidential candidates and promoting the candidature of Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, portends grave danger, not only to us, your loyalist and supporters, but indeed for our great party.
“The greatest beneficiary of this Tambuwal issue Sir will be president Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP; may God forbid as we, your supporters, know that this is the last thing Asiwaju will wish for Nigeria,” the letter said.
The group alleged that Sokoto State governor, Aliyu Wammako is behind Tambuwal’s bid for the presidential position in the party, “because he has a candidate other than Tambuwal for the governorship of Sokoto State.”
The letter was also copied to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and all the presidential aspirants.
When contacted, Tambuwal’s spokesman Imam Imam said he was not aware of the matter.
Spokesman for Tinubu, Mr. Sunday Dare, said he was busy and would not be able respond to calls when contacted by our reporter. He did did not reply to an SMS sent to him.