Akande Confirms Buhari’s Support for Tinubu: No Opposition to His Candidacy

Bisi Akande, a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has clarified that former President Muhammadu Buhari never opposed the emergence of Bola Tinubu as president. Akande revealed that Buhari did not encourage his then-Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, to contest against Tinubu in the 2022 APC presidential primaries.

Osinbajo, a political protege of Tinubu, had contested for the APC’s presidential ticket but was defeated by Tinubu. Before becoming Vice President, Osinbajo was nominated by Tinubu for the role, after working with him as Attorney General during Tinubu’s tenure as Governor of Lagos State, despite hailing from Ogun State.

During the lead-up to the presidential primaries, tensions appeared to rise between Osinbajo and Tinubu, with Osinbajo deciding to challenge his mentor for the party’s presidential nomination. However, Akande emphasized that Buhari did not encourage this rivalry.

Speaking on Edmund Obilo’s Podcast, State Affairs, Akande explained that he had personally recommended Osinbajo as Vice Presidential candidate to Buhari. When asked if Buhari had opposed Tinubu’s presidential candidacy, Akande was clear in his response: “He didn’t tell me so. I asked him many questions, including whether he instigated Osinbajo to contest against Tinubu. He said no and explained that, in his culture, when your mentor is interested in a position, you don’t contest with him.”

Akande’s comments provide a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the APC’s leadership during the 2022 primaries and further clarify the relationship between Buhari, Tinubu, and Osinbajo.