Panic in APC as Tinubu, Mamman Daura, Kingibe meets secretly ahead of Presidential tribunal judgement

APC national leader, Asiwaju Bolaji Tinubu 

Details of a secret meeting between National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe and Mamman Daura in Abuja last weekend ahead of the judgement of the Presidential Election Tribunal has emerged.

According to Nigerian Pilot, Sources revealed that the trio met to assess the APC’s chances of winning the case following what was tagged “gaping holes” in the defense of the APC presidential candidate.



Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and his party, had dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Muhammadu Buhari to the Election Tribunal following the declaration of the APC candidate as winner of the 2019 presidential election by INEC.

Justice Mohammed Garba-led President Election Petition Tribunal had upon hearing of the final written addresses of the parties reserved judgement.




It was gathered that the former Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Gen Sani Abacha regime, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, Tinubu and Kingibe met over dinner during which they discussed matters of interest including the ongoing presidential election petition which judgement is being anxiously awaited.

Having reached some understanding, the duo of Tinubu and Kingibe proceeded to meet with Mamman Daura, a nephew and close associate of Buhari.

It was gathered that the trio discussed the state of the Buhari’s, INEC’s and All Progressives Conference’s defence to the Atiku Abubakar petition at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and concluded that they were on “slippery ground.”



It was also revealed that the APC chieftains are not comfortable with the decisions of majority of the judges on the five principal issues raised by the PDP and Atiku/Obi, especially, the non-qualification of President Buhari and perjury at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal

However, Tinubu’s interest in the case is linked to his speculated 2023 presidential election as the possibility of Buhari losing to Atiku Abubakar will put paid to his presidential ambition.


According to the source, they were concerned that there were “gaping holes” particularly the issue of the contentious Buhari’s certificate and his form CF001 which could undermine their victory when judgement is eventually delivered. “From what is available in the public space, the case (election petition) is not good for us, we are on slippery ground”, Kingibe was quoted to have said.

Tinubu impressed on Kingibe and Daura that the viability of his own presidential bid in 2023 can only be sustained by Buhari’s victory in court.



And because of Tinubu’s own presidential ambition in 2023, both Kingibe and Daura prevailed on the APC National Leader to “lobby” Justices at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

The Asiwaju was said to have informed them that he was traveling outside the country, but was committed to executing the mandate as requested. He assured them that on return to the country, he will relocate to Abuja until judgement was delivered “to do the needful”.



However, sources say the APC chieftains in the presidential villa believe Tinubu has the capacity to pull the “appropriate strings” as he is said to have been instrumental in the favourable outcome of the governorship election case in Osun state.

The lead Judge of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Garba Mohammed was brought-in to head the panel from the Lagos Division of the Appeal Court when the former Chairperson of the Panel and President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa rescued herself from the panel. Nigerian Pilot reports