A founding member of the All Progressives Congress, Bisi Akande, has disclosed that the late former President Muhammadu Buhari told him he did not urge ex‑Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to run against President Bola Tinubu in the 2022 APC primary. In that contest, Tinubu emerged as the party’s flagbearer while Osinbajo finished third. Osinbajo is widely regarded as a political protégé of Tinubu, having served as Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General in Lagos State.
Akande asserted that Osinbajo had every right to contest the primary and did not withdraw in favor of Tinubu. He emphasized that all candidates should be free to compete without bitterness, focusing on issues rather than personal attacks. Akande also noted his desire for a Yoruba president, which shaped his approach to the primary.
In an interview on Edmund Obilo’s podcast, *State Affairs*, Akande recounted his attempts to persuade Osinbajo to step down for Tinubu. He said that after several meetings, some candidates withdrew on the evening of the primary, but Osinbajo did not. Akande maintained that he did not discuss the matter with Tinubu afterward and did not blame Osinbajo for staying in the race.
Akande’s claim contradicts statements in Buhari’s biography, which suggests the late president did not support Osinbajo’s presidential ambition in 2022. According to Akande, however, Buhari told him he had not instigated Osinbajo to contest against Tinubu, citing cultural norms that a mentee would not run against a mentor. This revelation sheds light on the dynamics of the 2022 APC primary and the relationships among key party figures, offering valuable context for future political developments in Nigeria.
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