Former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode has predicted that Yahaya Bello, the governor of Kogi, will defeat former vice-president Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election if the two run.

In an interview with Channels Television on Friday, the former aviation minister confirmed this.

Bello will make a “great president,” according to Fani-Kayode, who also feels the Kogi governor will appeal to young Nigerians.

“I believe Governor Yahaya Bello. I believe that he will be an excellent president. I believe he will appeal to millions of young people in this country and that this is a change in the dynamics we are giving power to a younger person. That is just my view though,” he said.

Asked if Bello (as APC candidate) can defeat Atiku of the PDP in the poll, the former minister said the Kogi governor would defeat the former vice-president squarely.

“Why not? He (referring to Bello) will defeat him (referring to Atiku) hands down,” he said.

The former minister added only Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, his Enugu counterparts from the PDP can provide a “strong fight” against the APC in the 2023 presidential election.

Fani-Kayode asked Mohammed to join the APC to contest the ruling party’s presidential ticket if the PDP denied him slot.

“There are two people that will provide a very strong fight against the APC within the ranks of the PDP, only two. The first is Bala Mohammed, who I have immense respect for,” he added.