UPDATED: 2023: Buhari speaks on his ‘favourite’ presidential candidate

President Muhammadu Buhari was non-committal when asked if he has a ‘favourite’ candidate within his party to succeed him.

The president said though he has no favourite, such a person ‘may be eliminated’ if he mentions his name.

“No, I wouldn’t, because he may be eliminated if I mention. I better keep it secret,” Mr Buhari said when asked if he had a favourite within the APC to succeed him.

Mr Buhari will round off his second term in office next year and is not constitutionally eligible to contest again.

Some of those believed to be interested in succeeding Mr Buhari within the APC is Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and ex-Lagos governor Bola Tinubu; although neither of them has publicly declared his interest to contest.

The reports that Mr Osinbajo had, on New Year’s day, discussed his political ambition with the president, were dismissed by his media aide.

The spokesperson to the VP, Laolu Akande, reportedly told a news platform to disregard the speculation as his boss never met with Mr Buhari as reported.

“If there is an update, I will ensure the media is made aware, please ignore the lies and many are going to still come,” Mr Akande was reported to have said.

There are also speculations that the APC is wooing former President Goodluck Jonathan to run for president on its platform.

Mr Jonathan, who was the presidential candidate of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 election, lost to Mr Buhari.

The former president is yet to speak on the speculations, though his media handlers have since dismissed the report,

With its national convention already slated for February, the ruling APC has remained hush on the zoning of its presidential ticket.

However, there are speculations that the ticket will be micro zoned to the south-west.