Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Consensus failed, Saraki not Northern candidate: Tambuwal

The Tambuwal Campaign Organisation has dismissed reports that a Northern consensus candidate has been picked.

• April 22, 2022
Bukola Saraki/Aminu Tambuwal
Bukola Saraki/Aminu Tambuwal

Our attention has been drawn to a news item that former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Gov. Bala Muhammad of Bauchi state have emerged as consensus candidates from amongst the four of us announced at a meeting in Minna, Niger state.

This is, to be candid and forthright, not correct.

The correct situation is that the team met on Wednesday 20th April, 2022, at Bauchi Governor’s lodge in Abuja and had a review meeting; and, unanimously agreed that the consensus arrangement was not working.

The team further agreed that Sen. Saraki should come up with a draft statement on how to communicate this decision to the Nigerian public. This was the last time that members of the team sat and mutually agreed on anything.

The proposed meeting to review and vet the statement scheduled for 10 pm of the same day was aborted unilaterally by Sen. Saraki via a WhatsApp message.

However, on Thursday, 21st, 2022, same Sen Saraki circulated yet another WhatsApp message suggesting that members of the team should head to Minna for a meeting on Friday, Gov. Tambuwal reached other members of the team and informed them that he stands by the decision of the team that the initiative is not working. This is the reason Gov. Tambuwal was absent at today’s (Friday) meeting in Minna.

As a result therefore, the outcome of the Minna meeting has no consequence or any implication on the aspiration of Gov. Tambuwal, who had earlier on informed his colleagues of maintaining their agreed position that the initiative has collapsed.

Members of the public should be reminded that what was canvassed for was a consensus candidate and not consensus candidates.

For the avoidance of doubt, Gov. Tambuwal has submitted his Presidential nomination forms and now that the quest for a consensus candidate out of the four has clearly collapsed, will go ahead and face screening and indeed contest the PDP presidential primaries.

This is in consonance with his acclaimed outlook as a pan-Nigerian candidate, with pedigree of national service as the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, life member of the Body of Benchers and now in his second and final term as Governor of Sokoto state.

Signed by:
Nicholas Msheliza
Director Organisation and Mobilisation
Tambuwal Campaign Organisation

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Elon Musk

World

SpaceX: Elon Musk regains trillionaire status

Mr Musk currently owns about 4.8 billion shares in SpaceX.

Jumoke Oduwole

Economy

FG urges states to leverage AfCFTA for growth

The minister described AfCFTA as a key component of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

Corps members at orientation camp

NationWide

FG approves NYSC reforms, deployment process, uniforms

Mr Olawande noted the reforms will reposition the NYSC as a skills-driven, productivity-focused and youth-empowering institution.

Venezuela Earthquake

World

Venezuela Earthquakes: Man rescued from rubble after four days as death toll rises above 1,700

He was reportedly rescued in La Guaira state, Venezuela’s port region, which was ravaged by the earthquakes.

Obidient Movement

NationWide

Tinubu govt has captured, weaponised judiciary as tool for partisan warfare, Obidient Movement alleges

Mr Tanko slammed the ruling as a deliberate attempt by the ruling APC to frustrate Mr Obi.

Gabriel Martinelli

Sport

World Cup: Gabriel Martinelli’s late goal powers Brazil to round of 16 win over Japan

Brazil will face the winners of the round of 32 tie between Ivory Coast and Norway.