Buhari Never Pushed Osinbajo Against Tinubu — Bisi Akande Reveals

A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, has dismissed long-standing speculations that late former President Muhammadu Buhari instigated former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to contest against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the party’s 2022 presidential primary.

Speaking on State Affairs, a podcast hosted by Edmund Obilo, Akande said Buhari personally clarified to him that he did not encourage Osinbajo to challenge Tinubu for the APC ticket.

During the 2022 APC primary election, Tinubu emerged as the party’s flagbearer, while Osinbajo finished a distant third. Osinbajo is widely regarded as a political protégé of Tinubu, having served as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Lagos State under Tinubu’s governorship. Tinubu is also believed to have played a key role in Osinbajo’s emergence as Buhari’s running mate in 2015.

Akande explained that while he encouraged open participation in the primary, his priority was unity and issue-based campaigns, particularly among Yoruba aspirants.

“I wanted everybody to be free to contest the election, but I didn’t want bitterness. I wanted them to talk on issues, not destroy one another, because I wanted one of them to emerge in the end. I wanted a Yoruba president,” he said.

On efforts to persuade aspirants to rally behind Tinubu, Akande disclosed that several contenders stepped down voluntarily on the eve of the primary, but Osinbajo chose to remain in the race.

“After several meetings, I told them we wanted only one candidate and that any of them could voluntarily step down. Some did, even on the evening of the primary. Osinbajo did not step down, and I didn’t discuss it with Tinubu afterwards,” he said.

Akande stressed that Osinbajo had every right to contest. “He has every right to contest and he did. I don’t blame anybody for contesting elections,” he added.

Addressing claims that Buhari was opposed to Tinubu’s ambition, Akande said the former president denied such suggestions when questioned directly.

“He didn’t tell me so. I asked him many questions. He wanted me to understand that he was not the one who instigated Osinbajo to contest against Tinubu,” Akande said.

According to Akande, Buhari was reportedly surprised by Osinbajo’s decision to run, noting that in his cultural understanding, a protégé does not contest against a mentor seeking the same position.

Akande’s account contrasts with claims contained in Buhari’s biography, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, authored by Dr Charles Omole. The book quoted Buhari as saying he did not support Osinbajo’s presidential ambition in 2022 because he “never knew him” personally and only came to know Osinbajo through Tinubu.

The differing accounts have continued to fuel debate over the internal dynamics that shaped the APC’s decisive 2022 presidential primary.