Buhari directed exclusion of Osinbajo from Tinubu/Shettima campaign list to avoid distraction – APC

The All Progressives Congress has explained Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, are excluded from the just released campaign council list of the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, is on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.

It said in a statement on Saturday that the President gave the directive not to include them to avoid distraction and enable the two principal officials of the administration to concentrate on the business of governance.

The clarification came in reaction to reports that Osinbajo, who lost to Tinubu in the APC presidential primary, was deliberately left out of the list, giving the impression that all is not well within the Tinubu camp.

The statement signed by Festus Keyamo,  Director of Public Affairs and Chief Spokesperson for Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, read,

“Our attention has been drawn to some stories making the rounds that there may be something amiss within the family of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the name of our own revered and respected Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, is not included in the list of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council. Nothing can be farther from the facts.

“For the avoidance of doubt, President Muhammadu Buhari , GCFR, is the Chairman of the Campaign Council. As a result, Mr. President has SPECIFICALLY directed that the Vice-President and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha should be left out of the Campaign Council to concentrate on the governance of the country and administration of Government.

“As a responsible Party and Government, all the key functionaries of government cannot abandon their positions for electioneering campaigns. The APC has the mandate of the Nigerian people to administer the country on their behalf at least till May, 29, 2023, and this we intend to do with all sense of responsibility.

“Our candidates and the leadership of the APC have also indicated that the list is not sacrosanct as there may be periodic review of it as circumstances dictate.

“We will not toe the path of those who governed the country in an irresponsible manner before us and our Party is not in total disarray like those who wish to ‘rescue’ the country, but cannot simply manage their own internal affairs.”