Nigerian Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo announced on Monday that he was entering the presidential race in February 2023 in Africa’s most populous country and declared that he was a candidate for his party’s primary.
Elected vice president in 2015, Mr Osinbajo made the announcement after months of speculation over his ambition to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, who after two terms decided not to run again.
The 65-year-old lawyer and former university professor said his years of service under President Buhari made him the best man for the job.
“That’s why I officially declare today, with the greatest humility, my intention to run for president (…) through our great party, the All Progressives Congress” (APC), said he said during a recorded statement.
The ruling APC party will nominate its candidate after a primary, which is due by June.
APC leader and former Governor of Lagos, Bola Tinubu, has already announced that he is a candidate along with Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi and Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
In the event of victory, Mr. Osinbajo, who hails from Lagos, vowed to continue Mr. Buhari’s policies and programs, including major infrastructure projects such as roads and railways.
Security will be a major issue in the election as the country is plagued by widespread insecurity. The Nigerian army is deployed on multiple fronts, notably in the northeast, the scene of a jihadist insurgency for more than 12 years, and in the northwest where criminal gangs loot, kidnap and kill populations.
The high cost of living, yet another series of general power cuts and soaring fuel prices will also weigh as Nigerians fail to take advantage of the oil resources of their country, Africa’s top producer of black gold.
The candidate of the ruling party will face the one who will emerge from the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 75, who has run for president five times in the past, announced his candidacy under the PDP banner last month.