All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Governors Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) were among the presidential aspirants that attended the Iftar dinner hosted by the First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, on Saturday, at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio; one-time National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Barnabas Gemade; former Speaker Yakubu Dogara; and oil and gas mogul, Tein Jack-Rich were also in attendance.
As at 6:20pm, some of the dignitaries had started entering the venue of the event, which was slated to take off by 6:30pm in the invitation cards.
The First Lady had invited all presidential aspirants, across all political parties, to the Ramadan Iftar.
It was gathered that the invited personalities were instructed to drop their mobile devices at home and only carry their invitation cards, which would serve as the only entry permit for the event.
So far, those who have indicated interest to contest the Presidential election include Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi and former Presidents of the Senate, Anyim Pius Anyim and Bukola Saraki respectively.
Others are the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike; his Kogi State counterpart, Yahaya Bello and that of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi; that of Sokoto and Bauchi states, Aminu Tambuwal and Bala Mohammed respectively.
Former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha; Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, businessman Isa Hayatudeen, among others have also indicated interest to contest the presidential elections next year.
However, the directive to the invitees not to approach the venue with phones would not apply to Osinbajo and other governors and ministers, who are expected to be at the meeting.