Just In: Buhari backs southern candidate for president

President Muhammadu Buhari has endorsed a power shift to the South in 2023.

He made this known at a dinner with All Progressives Congress presidential aspirants in Abuja.

Buhari Saturday night met with the presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress, at the State House where he made his position known.

Buhari, who returned from an ECOWAS extraordinary summit hours ago, met with the aspirants screened by a panel set up by the party.

The aspirants in attendance included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Bola Tinubu, Governors Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Fayemi Kayode (Ekiti), former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Goodwill Akpabio, Former Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, amongst others.

Also at the meeting were the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and the National Security Adviser (NSA), and Major General Babangida Monguno (rtd).

The meeting, which took place at the official residence of the president at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, came barely 48 hours to the national convention of the party. Sources said the parley centred on the choice of the APC presidential flag bearer.

Also, the issue of a consensus candidate, and the outburst by former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, against President Buhari allegedly, over the perceived plot to sideline him from the race among others, formed the crux of the meeting.

Meanwhile, Jigawa Governor Abubakar Badaru has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress presidential race.

He withdrew from the primary slated for Monday after 10 APC Governors backed powershift to the South in 2023.