Thursday, June 18, 2026

Buhari unpredictable; may shock Nigerians with candidate to succeed him: Okorocha

Mr Okorocha said Buhari will consider certain factors before he endorses any politician for the 2023 presidency.

• April 29, 2022
Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha
Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha [Photo credit: BBC]

Former Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari may surprise Nigerians with his choice of successor..

The Senator representing Imo West was speaking on Wednesday in an interview with Channels Television, when he said the president is “unpredictable”, and may likely spring a surprise with his choice. 

Mr Buhari had said in January that the name of his preferred presidential candidate would remain a secret to avoid being eliminated by rivals. He has since kept his preferred successor close to his chest while urging on everyone who sought his advice to run for president.

Mr Okorocha said Buhari will consider certain factors before he endorses any politician for the 2023 presidency.

“But if you know President Muhammadu Buhari, he is a general. You can’t predict him. He is so unpredictable that you cannot predict what he will do. He might pull anybody by surprise anytime,” he said.

“That gives him the military training that he has. Anybody (referring to presidential hopefuls) that meets him, whatever he says to A, the same thing he will say to B.

“If anybody comes out to say, Buhari has endorsed him, the person will not be saying the truth. The president may have his preferred candidate in his chest. He has not made that known to anybody.

“The President Buhari, I know, will want to check the mood of the nation. He will also consider the interest of the people.

“He will also consider who can win the election for the party. President Buhari in making his decision will be guided by so many issues that he has to consider,” Mr Okorocha pontificated.

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