As the buildup to the 2023 presidential elections hots up, former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has intensified his effort to pick up the nomination of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, to become the next president of Nigeria.

Although the former Lagos governor has not indicated an interest in the seat, his actions in the past few months have shown his willingness to step into the big shoes that would be left by the incumbent president on May 29, 2003.

To consolidate on his already popular machinery, Asiwaju met with former governor of Kano State and senator representing Kano Central, Ibrahim Shekarau, on Sunday in Lagos.

The pair, met at the residence of the national leader to discuss several issues affecting the party in Kano state.

In this write-up, I’ve identified two main reasons Asiwaju may have called for the meeting with Senator Shekarau.

1. To discuss recent developments in Kano State

According to Daily Nigeria, Tinubu invited Shekarau to discuss the recent developments in the party in Kano state. As you know, Shekarau is currently the leader of the APC in Kano, following a court judgement that dissolved Governor Abdullahi Ganduje-led faction of the party. This development necessitated Asiwaju’s move to try and foster a working relationship with the new arrangement in Kano State. Before the Lagos meeting, sources said Mr Tinubu’s camp was following the unfolding developments in Kano APC with keen interest. Ganduje’s involvement of his family in the state affairs, the many scandals, corruption and growing resentment of Kano people against his administration are shrinking the party’s electoral fortunes in future elections and this may affect Asiwaju’s chances of getting over a million votes at the polls.

2. Tinubu needs Kano delegates to actualise his 2023 presidential ambition

Another reason the pair met is that Asiwaju is concerned about Kano because of its large delegate haul to the party’s national convention, where a presidential candidate will emerge. Kano has 44 local government party chairmen, 40 members of State Assembly (35 of them are APC members), 25 members of the House of Representatives (all are APC members), three senators (All of them APC members) and many former members who all have votes at the presidential primaries. The foregoing reasons and the fact that Kano gives APC highest number of votes at the general election made Asiwaju to be concerned about the Kano APC crisis.