2023: Pastor Tunde Bakare Gets The APC Presidential Form 

Pastor Bakare expresses his willingness to serve and collaborate with Nigerians for the sake of the country’s peace, growth, and prosperity.

By Omotayo Olutekunbi

The ruling All Progressives Congress’ presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination papers have been obtained by Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church.

On Thursday, May 5, 2022, Bakare, who announced his candidacy for president on Monday, picked up the papers at the APC headquarters in Abuja.

In a statement released on Thursday, the pastor broke the news.

The statement reads in part, “Having been privileged to serve Nigeria in various nation-building capacities, I intend to take a step further in the service of our beloved country and of you, her worthy citizen, by running for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is with utmost humility, therefore, that I write to formally inform you — distinguished citizens of our nation, elder statesmen and stateswomen, political leaders, traditional leaders, overseers of religious establishments, members of civil society, policymakers, students, public servants from the national and sub-national levels of government, stakeholders from the private sector, the intelligentsia, opinion moulders, thought leaders from various institutions of knowledge, and every Nigerian, home and abroad — of my intention to contest.

“Propelled by the desire to rebuild Nigeria into a nation that works for every Nigerian, I have, in the past, engaged in the political process as running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2011 presidential elections under the Congress for Progressive Change, and subsequently, as the founding member of the All Progressives Congress who moved the motion for the merger that produced the APC.

“I have also served as a leader in the civic space as the Convener of Save Nigeria Group, a coalition of civil society groups that facilitated the rightful recognition of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, first as Acting President, and then as substantive president, through a grassroots people movement and high-level advocacy.

“In 2014, it was my privilege to be selected as a South-West Delegate to the National Conference, where I proposed “The Nigerian Charter for National Reconciliation and Integration” that was unanimously adopted and incorporated into the final report.

“Furthermore, I have been actively involved in awakening collective citizen ownership through the pulpit as the founding Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, formerly known as The Latter Rain Assembly.

“I have, in addition, contributed to engendering social, political and economic shifts in Nigeria through propositional platforms, including through such initiatives as the New Nigeria Dialogues, the inaugural event of a think-tank I founded in 2009. I have also provided pro bono advisory services to government institutions through key policy inputs, while fostering coalition-building across divides, in addition to building thriving businesses in diverse sectors.

“I have remained committed to harnessing my local and international networks, platforms and resources towards the emergence of the New Nigeria.”

Bakare, who ran for President against Muhammadu Buhari in 2011 as a member of the Congress for Progressive Change, said he pledged to serve and work with Nigerians for the country’s peace, progress, and prosperity.