A support group for the presidential hopeful, Tinubu Ballhe has said he would secure no fewer than 14 million votes for the 2023 presidential hopeful.
The group, South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA), expressed optimism that Mr. Tinubu will win a large percentage of votes in the region regardless of the presence of other challengers from the Southwest.
This was stated by the group’s chairman and former senator, Adedayo Adeyeye, when he led his members on a courtesy visit to the PREMIUM TIMES headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
SWAGA, he said, was formed to consolidate Mr. Tinubu’s agenda and that of the people of the Southwest. He also said it cuts across party lines.
Members of the group South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA) during the courtesy visit to PREMIUM TIMES
Tinubu, a former Lagos state governor and head of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is one of the party’s leading contenders for president.
Since his official declaration in January, he has traveled to many states in the country to seek the support of Nigerians and promises to bring improvements in the areas of security, anti-corruption and the economy.
Mr. Adeyeye, in his speech, corroborated Mr. Tinibu’s agenda, a major reason why, he said, Nigerians will turn out to vote for the challenger.
The goal of getting 14 million votes for Mr. Tinubu comes on the heels of high voter apathy seen in previous elections with a higher percentage recorded in the Southwest.
Asked how the group was sure of getting 14 million votes in the next election, Adeyeye said Nigerians are crying out for an end to insecurity, banditry and kidnappings.
In addition to his popularity and strong base of operations, Adeyeye said that Tinubu had connected with and secured the support of more than 300 traditional rulers in the southwestern region.
Members of the group South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA) during the courtesy visit to PREMIUM TIMES
“Naysayers and mischievous people say that Asiwaju doesn’t have a base of operations. That is not true. He has a strong base of operations.
“We have visited more than 300 Obas (traditional rulers) and they have prayed and blessed Asiwaju. People and other groups in the Southwest have joined this agenda. And I can tell you that if Buhari said that he had 12 million votes, we already have 14 million in the pocket,” he said.
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He added that Tinubu is popular and influential among the masses in the southwest and other major northern states like Kano and Katsina.
Zoning controversy
On the principle of rotation, the former senator said that Mr. Tinubu not only has the right to run for president, but also the best candidate.
The group’s chairman and former senator, Adedayo Adeyeye
He said the only zoning policy recognized by the party’s constitution is the one between north and south, adding “there is no microzoning.”
He urged aggrieved members who want the ticket zoned for the Southeast to “get out there and work” for the position.
The group also assured that it is comprehensive for women and young people.
With the primaries just a month away, SWAGA said they would not underestimate other challengers such as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, but expressed optimism that Mr. Tinubu would win the primary and subsequently the main election.
Tinubu, a former senator, will compete for the APC nomination with other candidates in the party’s primary elections.
Other applicants include Mr. Osinbajo, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; the Minister of Labor and Employment, Chris Ngige; Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and his counterpart from Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
Others are former Senate President Ken Nnamani; the former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha and a businessman, Glengarnock Olawepo-Hashim.