Bisi Akande, a founding member of the All Progressives Congress, revealed that former President Muhammadu Buhari denied encouraging Yemi Osinbajo to run against Bola Tinubu in the 2022 party primaries. Despite Osinbajo’s history as Tinubu’s political protege and former commissioner, Akande noted that the former Vice President exercised his right to compete in the election rather than stepping down. Akande explained that his own goal was simply to ensure a Yoruba candidate emerged as president without internal bitterness. He recounted that while some candidates withdrew on the eve of the primary, Osinbajo chose to remain in the race. According to Akande, Buhari expressed surprise at Osinbajo’s decision to challenge his mentor, stating that such an action contradicted his own cultural values. This account, however, conflicts with claims in Buhari’s biography, which suggests the former president did not support Osinbajo’s bid because he primarily knew him only through his connection to Tinubu.
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