The Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has said he is no longer a member of the Lagos state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC),
Osinbajo through his spokesman, Laolu Akande confirmed the development on Monday evening.
This is coming after Osinbajo had declared his ambition to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
With his formal declaration, Osinbajo will be fighting the national leader of All progressive congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, widely believed to be his political godfather for the presidential ticket.
Speaking on the development on Monday, Akande said Osinbajo who declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election on the APC platform moved his membership to Ogun State when he revalidated his APC Membership status in Ward One, Ikenne, Ogun State on 9th February 2021.
Prior to his movement, Osinbajo is a chieftain of the Lagos APC with his polling unit at Code 33, Unit 2 Victoria Garden City, Lagos.
Since 1999, Tinubu and Osinbajo have enjoyed a cordial political relationship.
Osinbajo served as the attorney-general of Lagos from 1999 to 2007 when Tinubu was the governor of the state.
It is widely believed in some quarters that Tinubu nominated Osinbajo as President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in 2015 as part of the political bargaining that led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
On Monday, the vice-president unveiled his presidential bid after months of speculation and denial — meaning Tinubu, who declared his bid back in January, will have to square up against Osinbajo, who is regarded as his “political son”.
Shortly after Osinbajo declared his presidential ambition, Tinubu met with 12 APC governors in Abuja.
DAILY GIST learnt that Osinbajo had earlier held a similar meeting on Sunday night.
Speaking with the press after meeting with the governors, Tinubu said: “My mission is to seek collaboration, support and encouragement of my party — the APC for my ambition and mission to become the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
Asked to react to the presidential declaration of his “son”, the former Lagos governor said he has no son grown enough to join the presidential race.
“I have no son grown enough to declare,” Tinubu responded when asked about Osinbajo’s declaration
In 2015, Tinubu sought to run with President Buhari but was asked to nominate to avoid a Muslim/Muslim ticket.
The APC co-founder then selected Osinbajo, his former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice.
Many believe with his declaration, the Professor of Law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has drawn the battle line with Tinubu.
