By TEMIBI SAMUEL, Lokoja

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has reiterated that no zoning formula to contest the presidential seat in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bello maintained that the much talked about zoning formula does not exist in the constitution of the APC and Nigeria.

He spoke on Arise TV while reacting to the APC producing its National Chairman and a Presidential candidate from the same region of North-Central.

The governor noted that the problems confronting Nigeria have nothing to do with zoning, hence emphasis should be placed on credible Presidential candidates.

He said: “APC has no zoning formula as far as the party’s law is concerned, no zoning formula as far as the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is concerned. Poverty, insecurity, lack of infrastructure has no zoning.

“These are the problems we are confronted with today, and they have no zoning. The party delegates would vote for me.

“I would prefer that we go by merit and vote for who can get these problems solved.”

The Governor will formally declare his presidential ambition on Saturday, April 2 at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

This was confirmed by the organising committee for the official declaration on Wednesday.

Already, Bello has received several endorsements from across the geopolitical zones, especially youths and women across the country, urging him to run. However, the young Governor had insisted that he will declare his intention to run for the presidency in the forthcoming 2023 election once the All Progressives Congress (APC) holds it national convention.

“By the mandate and calling of Nigerians, Nigerian youths and women and people all over the world that are calling me to run and build on the achievement of President Muhammadu Buhari. I will surely answer them immediately after our convention as the case may be,” Bello told newsmen in Lokoja two months ago.

Aside age advantage, being the youngest Governor in Nigeria, Bello has received accolades for enhancing security in Kogi, women and youth inclusion in governance, breaking walls of ethnicity and his firm belief in unity.