The immediate past secretary-general of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani has predicted victory for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 elections.

Sani based his forecast on what he described as the understanding of a ‘street politician.’

He added that the insistence by southern governors that the next president should come to their region may just work in favour of the APC and its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

Though he observed that the Labour Party (LP) flagbearer, Peter Obi is from the south and may get part of the sympathy votes as well, the former ACF scribe maintained that Tinubu has a wider appeal and stands a better chance at the polls.

The elder statesman argued further that because Obi and New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso are ‘offshoots’ of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), they will further split the votes expected to accrue to Atiku Abubakar.

He said; “As I have pointed out several times, I am not a psychologist. But as a “street politician”, I can hazard some forecast based on the dynamics in the political cockpit.

“Southern governors and their socio-political platforms have resolved to vote only presidential candidates from the South on grounds that it is the turn of the South to produce the president from the south to succeed President Buhari. One can say the southern votes will be shared among presidential candidates from the south, largely between Bola Tinubu of APC and Mr Peter Obi of Labour party.

“In the North, because the 15 APC governors largely caused the emergence of Tinubu in the primaries, it stands to reasons for one to believe the votes in the North will be shared among Tinubu of APC because of APC governors, former VP Atiku of PDP and Kwankwaso of NNPP.

“And when you consider the fact that both Peter Obi and Kwankwaso came from PDP, their emergence has reduced any sturdy position of PDP in the sumo ring.”

PDP Is At War With Itself

Speaking further, Sani said the internal crisis threatening PDP has further dimmed the hopes of the party on launching any comeback with the 2023 polls.

He argued that the PDP crisis may eventually be in favour of Tinubu and the APC.

He said; “And when you factor in the lingering feuds in PDP which casts doubt on the party’s claim to rescuing Nigeria at war with itself when the party cannot rescue itself from itself, and there is also the fear in some quarters that a president Peter Obi could play Gorbachev who presided over the collapse of Soviet Union, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that it will be Tinubu who will most likely meet the constitutional requirements of majority votes and spread to emerge as the victor in the presidential elections.”

He urged the citizens to make their votes count so elected officials at all levels including the Governors can be accountable to the citizens.