During that time, the governors were negotiating with the president to have one of them emerge as the party's standard-bearer.
However, as the APC's Special Convention and Presidential Primary approached, it became clear that the president desired a large say in who would follow him. He had pleaded with the governors to let him choose his successor.
During the negotiations, the APC northern governors conference decided that power must shift to the south, thereby pressuring the president to back a southern candidate, following reports that the president favored Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
The governors claimed to have informed their representatives in the NWC, as well as Abdullahi Adamu himself, of their position. They also informed their delegates about the importance of voting for Tinubu.
Almost all governors' delegates voted for Tinubu at the convention, with the exception of four.
Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, who participated in the primary and had his delegates vote for him; North Central and South Western state governors; and Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, who also participated in the primary and had his delegates vote for him.