Former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Sani Yerima has declared to run for the 2023 presidential election, under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) joining a long list of individuals who have long indicated interest to succeed President Buhari.
The former Senator who represented Zamfara West, at the National Assembly, was spotted at the Presidential Villa Abuja on Friday, where he came to inform President Muhammadu Buhari about his intentions.
He said when elected President, he would focus on fighting insecurity, poverty alleviation and ignorance of the mind which many Nigerians are living with unknowingly.
The former governor, who is famous for introducing the Sharia legal system in his state, debunked claims that he was a religious extremist.
According to him, that perception people hold about him is one of the reasons he would work on the ignorance of Nigerians and give every citizen a sense of belonging.
While disclosing his plans to State House Correspondents, he noted that he had secured the consent of the President to run for the exalted office.
He is due to pick his expression of interest and nomination forms today.
South West presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC), governors and some party leaders are currently meeting at the Lagos House in Marina.
The meeting was convened by Chief Bisi Akande, a former APC National Chairman and former governor of Osun and Chief Olusegun Osoba, a former Ogun governor.
Those present at the meeting included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Sen. Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila.
The governors of Lagos, Osun, Ogun and Ekiti, Messrs Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Gboyega Oyetola, Dapo Abiodun and Kayode Fayemi respectively were also present.
Also present at the meeting were the Ministers of Works and Housing, Trade and Industry and Investment, and Interior, Messrs Babatunde Fashola, Adeniyi Adebayo and Rauf Aregbesola respectively and a host of other APC leaders in the zone.