President Muhammadu Buhari today disclosed that he will seek a second term in office in the February 2019 presidential elections in Nigeria.

The Governor of Kaduna State and a close ally of the president, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai tweeted that President Buhari intimated the National Executive Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of his intention to contest the 2019 presidential elections during their meeting on Monday.

“PMB has just announced to APC NEC his intention to run for a second term of office. Alhamdullilahi,” El-Rufai tweeted.

Also confirming the development, the President’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmed wrote on his verified Twitter handle: “President Muhammadu Buhari has just officially announced his intention to seek re-election in 2019.”

Governor El-Rufai and other governors elected under the platform of the APC as well as other chieftains of the party have been in the forefront of campaigns calling on President Buhari to vie for a second term in office.

President Buhari had in February this year asked the APC governors to give him more time to consult and decide whether he would seek re-election in 2019 or not. Monday’s announcement puts an end to months of speculations about the President’s ambition.