Leading Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Yahaya Bello, on Wednesday, picked up his Expression of Interest and Nomination Form to contest for the 2023 presidential election.

Bello, who was the first to pay the N100 required for the forms, was received by a mammoth crowd of party faithfuls and support groups from across the country, who have been urging him to run for President.

Addressing the mammoth crowd that had come to welcome him, Bello said, “Right now, what we have ahead of us is a task of canvassing and consulting all party faithfuls, leaders, delegates and stalwarts, members and all Nigerians, at home and even in the diaspora to support us so that we become the flagbearer of this great party come 30 and 31 of May 2022. And by the special grace of God, I am confident I shall become victorious and the party shall become victorious.

“Yahaya Bello is coming on the table to restore hope for Nigerians, for the entire black Africans and for the entire black nation across the world. That is the hope that we are coming on board with. To Unite, to secure, and to put the country and our people on the path of progress and prosperity.”

On the call on Jonathan to join the race, he said: “That is the beauty of democracy. In democracy, anybody can push for, vie for and support anyone. But I am assuring you that our great Party, the All Progressives Congress is a party that has its own ethics, rules and regulations and I know that all of it is in my favour.

“I am confident because I am in the majority. I have the women, I have the youths, I have the people living disabilities behind me, I have leaders, I have followers, I have Nigerians and above all, I have God almighty behind me.”

Director-General, Hope ‘23 Yahaya Bello Campaign Organisation, Hafsat Abiola-Costello, said the fact that Bello was the first candidate to pay for the nomination forms demonstrated the sincerity of purpose.

She said that Bello’s action was a demonstration that the young people were ready to take the leadership of Nigeria.

“This is a historic moment, a great milestone in the history of of our country, Nigeria.

“Finally, the young people of Nigeria are taking responsibility, demonstrating that we can lead this country to a brighter future.

“At this moment, the candidate, Gov Yahaya Bello has come to pick his form. He was the first to pay for his APC Presidential form and he has come today to pick up his form.

“Because we want to demonstrate our sincerity of purpose, our belief is that this is the destiny that God wants for Nigeria and we will do everything in our power to bring it about.

“So we are looking forward to to the support of the delegates of the APC; we are also looking forward to the support of Nigerians when we get to the Presidential Campaign.”