The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commenced the search for the running mate of the Presidential Candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Among other qualified persons being considered as Tinubu’s running mate are Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha. Both of them are prominent northern Christians.
While efforts are on to avoid a Muslim-Muslim ticket, the party is also said to be considering Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, who is a strong northerner but a Muslim.
A chieftain of the APC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Nigerians were justified in expressing reservations about a Muslim-Muslim ticket. He, however, cautioned that people should be more concerned about competence rather than religious affiliations.
He said northern governors were working with the party’s National Working Committee to consider a list of options at their disposal, adding, “There is no cause for alarm. We anticipated that things could head this way, but the party is considering some candidates to neutralise the threat of an Atiku presidency.
“The party and the governors are mulling the option of Lalong, Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu; and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.”
He added that El-Rufai, Kano State Governor Abdulahi Ganduje and Mallam Kashim Ibrahim-Imam were also being considered.
The party’s NWC, led by the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and the Progressives Governors’ Forum, led by Bagudu, visited Tinubu barely 24 hours after his emergence as the APC candidate.
Meanwhile, members of the APC Northern States’ Governors Forum earlier paid a courtesy visit to Tinubu in Asokoro, Abuja. Although details of the closed-door meeting were sketchy, Saturday PUNCH reports that it might not be unconnected with talks around the running mate and the likelihood of Nigerians rejecting a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
The spokesman for the Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, however, told journalists that the candidate already had an arrangement with the Progressive Governors’ Forum to decide his running mate if he emerged as the candidate.
“The vice-president can come from any region and religion, but the PGF is at liberty to pick. The party will look at the chances and decide how it will balance a Muslim from the South, maybe with somebody who comes from the North-East, North-Central or the North West. That is how it is done. I cannot circumvent the party. The Bagudu-led PGF has the task to pick a competent deputy for him,” Onanuga stated.
