Few hours to the presidential primary of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, the identity of President Muhammadu Buhari’s preferred successor was still shrouded in secrecy and causing tension among the aspirants and stakeholders.

Multiple presidency sources pointed at four persons as the likely choice.

Those mentioned were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, and Chief Emeka Nwajiuba.

Some party leaders said last night that they could not read President’s “body language” on the issue.

Many leaders of the party and the various convention committees were locked in meetings at many locations in Abuja, last night in readiness for tomorrow’s primaries.

Leaders of South-West were also holding a make or mar meeting to forge a common front on consensus candidate at the home of former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba.

Meanwhile, there is confusion among the aides and supporters of President Buhari over who is his preferred candidate among the presidential aspirants.

About five of the aspirants have been mentioned by some people as the President’s choice.

The names that appear regularly are the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the former Minister of Science and Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the former Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba and of late the Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi.

Some of the President’s aides that were approached to mention Buhari’s preferred candidate said, “up till now, we are confused, Mr. President is keeping everything to himself unlike the position of the party’s national chairman where he mentioned the name of Senator Adamu before the convention.

“All the names people are mentioning are mere guess work. His body language has not revealed his preferred candidate.”

Also the Kogi State governor and one of the 23 presidential aspirants, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, disclosed that at the meeting with President Buhari on Saturday, they all agreed to accept any one of them he chooses as the consensus candidate.

Bello, who spoke on The Channels’ Politics Today programme, said he agreed with President Buhari’s request to have input in the selection of his successor as was extended to APC governors.

“I am ready for consensus if it comes from the President,” he said, adding that he was ready for consensus or primary because he had the support of 50 per cent of the expected 2,340 delegates.

On how other aspirants were taking President Buhari’s move for consensus, he said “at the dinner the 23 aspirants had with the President, almost 100 per cent of the aspirants agreed that whoever he chooses among us we will abide.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was seated at the meeting. He did not oppose it. Dr Onu and Governor Bagudu spoke. The Vice President also concurred. If the President comes up with a candidate and a Vice Presidential candidate today, all of us will follow.”