Ahead of 2023 presidential election, Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello has indicated his interest in picking his vice presidential candidate from the South East geopolitical zone.
His intention was revealed by the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Mathew Kolawole who submitted that
Yahaya Bello of Kogi is the best candidate to lead Nigeria come 2023, with Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi the most preferred Vice Presidential candidate.
But in a dramatic twist, the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Francis Nwifuru rejected the proposal, saying, Bello should look the other way round.
Kolawole, who is on nationwide consultations for Yahaya Bello presidency in 2023 led seven other colleagues to Ebonyi where he maintained that Nigeria’s North Central and South East were the most marginalised regions since 1999.
He welcomed Ebonyi governor’s defection to APC as a healthy development, insisting that the two marginalised zones deserve to produce President and Vice President in 2023.
He said, “Your people will benefit more. We in Kogi House have a robust relationship with the executive arm. For best functionality you need cordiality with other arms. Our governor is the youngest and doing well, including in the area of security. We have borders with nine states.

“We have passed a vote of confidence on him. We went further to look at the geopolitical zone in the country. We passed the resolution that our governor should be the first to contest the presidency in 2023.”
Reacting, Ebonyi State Speaker said, Engr. David Umahi should be allowed to be the next President with Yahaya Bello as Vice.
Nwifuru appealed to the ruling All Progressives Congress to zone its 2023 presidency to the South East, while the governor of Ebonyi State should be supported.
