The seven All Progressives Congress presidential aspirants from the South-West would today (Saturday) hold a final meeting in Abuja on crucial decision related to their aspirations.
The aspirants are Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; APC stalwart, Bola Tinubu; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; former Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate, Ajayi Boroffice; a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; and Lagos cleric, Pastor Tunde Bakare.
Governors from the region Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) and some ministers of South-West are also expected to attend the deliberation.
The meeting would take place at the Abuja home of a former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, around 8pm.
It was gathered that the discussion is about unity in the region that would possibly produce consensus.
An anonymous aspirant said, “We will all be meeting at Chief Osoba’s home by 8pm in Abuja. Everyone is expected to be present. We will all sit together and discuss the need to ensure that the South-West gets the ticket.
“However, all of us will be asked to be truthful with one another and see who among us has the best chance of winning the primary. Then if anyone is willing to step down to boost the chances of the South-West, then this will be encouraged.”
It was also gathered on Friday that permutations are ongoing by some northern governors to secure the presidential ticket for a northerner.
This was said to have triggered the urgent unity parley drawn by the South West aspirants/ leaders to achieve a way forward .
It was revealed that the Thursday outburst by Tinubu at a meeting with Ogun State delegates , where he insisted that the APC must give its ticket to a Yoruba man and that he must be the favoured candidate is not unconnected to his awareness of the scheming of the northern governors to again have the ticket.
It was also gathered that the Presidential aspirants from the South-East is also planning for a concensus candidate in favour of their region.