Fani-Kayode: Yahaya Bello would defeat Atiku if they contest 2023 presidential election

Femi Fani-Kayode, former minister of aviation, says Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi, will defeat Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, in the 2023 presidential election if they both contest.

With months to the 2023 election, there have been speculations on who will emerge as the flagbearers of the two major political parties — All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In an interview with Channels Television on Friday, Fani-Kayode said he believes Bello will make an “excellent president,” adding that the Kogi governor will appeal to young Nigerians.

“I believe Governor Yahaya Bello. I believe that he will be an excellent president. I believe he will appeal to millions of young people in this country and that this is a change in the dynamics we are giving power to a younger person. That is just my view though,” he said.

Asked if Bello (as APC candidate) can defeat Atiku of the PDP, the former minister said the Kogi governor would defeat the former vice-president squarely.

“Why not? He (referring to Bello) will defeat him (referring to Atiku) hands down,” he said.

The former minister said only Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, his Enugu counterpart — both from the PDP — can provide a “strong fight” against the APC in the 2023 presidential election.

Fani-Kayode asked Mohammed to join the APC to contest the ruling party’s presidential ticket if the PDP denies him a slot.

“There are two people that will provide a very strong fight against the APC within the ranks of the PDP, only two. The first is Bala Mohammed, who I have immense respect for,” he added.

“But I doubt they have the presence of mind to give him the ticket. In fact, they will make sure he does not get the ticket.

“And Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state who is not even on your list (a list of 2023 presidential hopefuls put together by Channels Television) and he is one of the brightest and the best of them all, the most effective. They are two people that would provide a good fight.

“There is nobody else on that list, particularly Atiku Abubakar, that can stand against anybody within the APC, particularly against Yahaya Bello, Fashola or Fayemi. That is just my view, and I have my reason for saying that.”

In the 2019 election, Atiku came second after polling 11,262,978 votes as the winner of the election — President Muhammadu Buhari — polled 15,191,847 votes.