Tambuwal receives presidential nomination form bought for him, says he is still consulting

The Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal on Friday received the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination form bought for him on Thursday by some members of the House.

While receiving the form, Tambuwal said he is still consulting and will soon tell Nigerians if he will run for presidency or Sokoto State governorship.

It would recalled that friends and associates of the Speaker, including several APC members in the House of Representatives had trooped to the party’s Abuja office to purchase the forms on his behalf on Thursday.

Tambuwal had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, last month to pitch his tent with the opposition, APC.

Sources told our correspondent that APC chieftain, Bola Ahmed Tinubu prevailed on Tambuwal to pick the form as it was revealed that the former Lagos state governor may have preferred a younger northern leader.

Tambuwal was earlier tipped to run as governor in his home state, Sokoto.

In a text message, spokesperson to the Speaker, Imam Imam, while confirming the development said: “Earlier today, some friends and political associates of the Speaker notified him that they have bought the forms for him.”

His entrance into the presidential race brings to five, the number of persons vying for the nation’s top job on the platform of the party.

They include former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State and newspaper publisher, Sam Nda-Isiah.

The special convention of the party, which is coming up in a fortnight ago was meant for late defectors like Tambuwal to benefit from every privilege of old members.

The APC has also said it will conduct a modified primary election in which delegates will vote for their candidate of choice from their home state, after which a national convention will simply collate and ratify the votes from across the country.

If Tambuwal picks the ticket, it is believed that his running mate will be choosing from the trio of Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Babatunde Fashola (Lagos).