In a move that will stir some political dust, the All Progressives Congress has recognised the Progressives Consolidation Group, canvassing support for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to emerge as presidential candidate in 2023.

According to a report, the group got the APC national secretariat approval, in a letter signed by the Director of Administration, Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman.

It was the first support group to be accorded such recognition by the party and may signal a plan by the party top guns to shut out other contestants in the race.

The only obstacle the group has to work full throttle for an Osinbajo presidency is Osinbajo himself.

The Vice-President is yet to formally declare interest in the job and has denounced all attempts to drag his name into the race.

A spokesman for the support group acknowledged the obstacle and group, appealed to the Vice President to yield to the public demand to declare his interest in the election.

In the letter to the group, Suleman claimed that the approval has the blessing of the caretaker national chairman of the party, Governor Mai Mala Buni.

We write to inform you that the National Chairman, His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni, has approved your recognition as a support group of the party,” Suleman wrote, according to a report by Punch.

Addressing reporters on the recognition, the head of the Progressive Civil Society Group, one of the sub-groups in the PCG, Mr Bala Gide said: