By Patrick Idowu
Babafemi Ojudu, former Special Adviser on Political Matters to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed that Buhari neither supported Bola Tinubu nor Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC), presidential primary.
Speaking on the podcast State Affairs hosted by Edmund Obilo, Ojudu explained how Tinubu employed strategic maneuvers to secure the APC presidential ticket despite Buhari’s neutrality.
“I knew Osinbajo was going to lose the primary; I saw it coming.
“With the system we operated, 40% of the effort was in addressing delegates, but 60% depended on Buhari mobilizing governors and aides. Without that, we were going nowhere,” Ojudu said.
He noted that Buhari’s lack of support for Osinbajo was apparent, while Tinubu capitalized on the situation to outmaneuver the former president.
“Buhari never mobilized his team for Osinbajo or any candidate, creating an opportunity for Tinubu to fill the gap strategically,” Ojudu added.
The 2022 APC primary saw Tinubu emerge victorious with 1,271 votes, outpacing Rotimi Amaechi (316 votes), Osinbajo (235 votes), and Ahmad Lawan (152 votes), despite speculations that Buhari preferred Lawan as the party’s candidate.
Ojudu’s revelations underscore the critical role of strategy and influence in shaping the outcome of Nigeria’s political contests, highlighting Tinubu’s tactical approach in securing his path to the presidency.
