The Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has said he has not indicated any interest to contest in the 2023 presidential election.
This comes after a group opened a campaign office for him in Abuja.
The office is located at No. 15b, Buchanan Crescent, off Aminu Kano, near Emab Plaza Wuse 2, Abuja.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, told Tribune Online in a Whatsapp message on Sunday that his principal has not shown interest in the 2023 presidential race neither has he granted approval for the setting up of any campaign edifice or other structures in his name fo that purpose.
Also speaking after the denial, the group behind the structure acknowledged that they carried out the action without the consent of the Vice President.
In a statement on Sunday, the spokesperson of the group, Mr. Emmanuel Pipa clarified that they believe in Osinbajo as the best candidate to succeed Buhari having worked closely with the President as his deputy.
The group said Osinbajo would easily continue the laudable works already started by the current administration and also execute the vision of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The statement reads: “Our attention has just been brought to online publications alleging that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has opened a campaign office in Abuja ahead of the 2023 elections.
“We wish to clarify that the said office belongs to our coalition of support groups which strongly believes in Professor Osinbajo as the leader Nigeria needs in 2023, and is determined to get him to declare an interest in running for the office of President as early as possible. Solely for this purpose, our recently acquired administrative office is located in the heart of Wuse area of Abuja.
“Even though Professor Osinbajo is yet to be acquainted with our activities, we intend to operate through a new organ, The Progressive Project TPP to coordinate youth, women and other groups across the federation. Ours is therefore not a campaign office but a venue for coordination, handling of an increasing volume of correspondence and meetings in readiness for the time when Vice President Yemi Osinbajo accedes to our request for him to run and consolidate gains made under President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Party chieftains will of course lead the real campaign when that time comes. Being a heartbeat away from the number one job, there are countless APC members and even, non-partisan citizens across the federation who are pushing for Professor Yemi Osinbajo to succeed or highly revered President Buhari, solely in the interest of the nation.
“We are convinced that Osinbajo’s level of familiarity with the vision, achievements, and challenges being handled by President Buhari is second to none and that such insight would enable a new APC administration to hit the ground running in 2023.
“We anticipate that various new and existing pro-Osinbajo platforms will become part of the group to which their focus appears more relevant”.
