Presidency 2023: Saraki in fourth presidential race, makes consultation visit to Gov Ortom

The former President of the Senate of the Nigerian National Assembly, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has commenced initial contact and mobilization activities in his primary constituency, the North Central zone, visiting Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State in Makurdi. The former Governor of Kwara State will be contesting for presidential ticket in 2023 for the fourth time since 2011.

Sarki at trey consultation meeting, commended Governor Ortom for his leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, extending to the north central, which he noted culminated in the emergence of the PDP national chairman from Benue State, north central zone.

Still celebrating Governor Ortom as the PDP leader in the north central who secured the national chairman for the zone, Saraki told Ortom that there is still another 2023 project for north central in the build up to the general elections. The former Kwara State Governor playing to caution, told the Benue Governor that project would be revealed at the appropriate time, when he would engage the Benue Governor in detailed consultation.

Meanwhile, Saraki is widely perceived to be aspiring for the presidential ticket of the PDP for the 2023 elections. He contested for the PDP ticket in 2011 and lost in the mock primary conducted to nominate a consensus northern candidate to challenge former President Goodluck Jonathan at the PDP national convention but lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Atiku stood in for the north and lost to President Jonathan. Saraki in 2015, contested the presidential ticket on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and lost to Muhammadu Buhari. Again, he lost the PDP presidential ticket in 2019 to former Vice President Atiku.

Saraki will be contesting for the presidential ticket for the fourth time in 2023.