Ahead of Friday’s deadline for the submission of presidential candidates and the vice-presidential candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it was reported that the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ‘quietly’ submitted his forms, with the inclusion of Kabir Ibrahim Masari as a ‘place holder’ for the Vice-presidential Candidate to be announced.
The ‘place holder’ for the APC VP slot, Masari, is said to be a kinsman of President Muhammadu Buhari from Katsina State.
Reports emerged on Thursday, indicating that as of Wednesday’s night the APC as well as Tinubu were yet to reach a logical conclusion on the individual to fill the slot of the Vice-Presidential candidate of the party.
An insider source who spoke with the Press on the matter said that the APC then decided to submit the forms which included a ‘Place holder’ instead of a vice-presidential candidate to meet the statutory requirement and as well beat the Friday, June 17, 2022 deadline by INEC for presidential candidates and vice-presidential candidates running for the 2023 general elections.
According to the source, a member of the party was chosen to act as a place holder of the vice-presidential candidate ticket slot in place of the real deputy who will be announced after all consultations have been concluded.
The source explained that despite the fact that a couple of names are on the table for consideration for a running mate, Tinubu and the APC are still making consultations for a suitable deputy that would enhance the party’s victory in 2023.
The controversy over the suitability of the APC running with a Muslim-Muslim ticket or otherwise, has been very intense in the last few days, making the consultation on a running mate linger as some members of the party objected the development, the source confirmed.
“The name of the running mate submitted would be changed for another northern politician in the next few weeks. The one submitted is just holding the ticket in trust for another candidate to be picked by Tinubu and the party in the next few weeks.
“The candidate is still widely consulting, because the issues around the choice of running mate are many and he is yet to address them all. So, he is still asking for more time to look into it all – whether he is running a Muslim-Muslim or a Muslim-Christian ticket.
“He personally thinks there’s a need for more consultation and that’s what he is doing. The debate on the choice of deputy has assumed a level that is currently greater than the party and the candidate, hence the need for comprehensive consultation, which is what he is doing,” a reliable party source was quoted to have said.
Speaking on the Muslim-Muslim ticket issue, Kogi State Governor and presidential aspirant in the just concluded presidential primary of the APC, Yahaya Bello, said he believes the party would prioritise merit while choosing Tinubu’s running mate, regardless of religion.
Bello who said this in an interview with State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, stated, “Whether Muslim-Muslim ticket or a Christian, whether from North-East or from wherever, I am confident that the party is going to come up with someone who will assist in the already victory that we are envisaging ahead of us. So whether you’re Muslim or Christian, we’re all Nigerians.”:
Meanwhile, the country’s main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to screen nominees for the vice-presidential position, today, Thursday, June 16.
The leadership of the PDP had constituted a 12-man committee-led by Chief Tom Ikimi, to screen the presidential nominees of the party.
A chieftain of the party who spoke with the press said three candidates were shortlisted for the position and are set to face the committee today.
According to the source, those shortlisted include Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa; his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike and the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.
The source added that the three aspirants who were recommended would face the screening committee of the party before the party’s final decision would be made known to the public.
“The matter is not in the hands of Atiku yet, When the committee members are done with their job, they will report back to the leadership of the party.
“That committee recommended three people, not just one as is currently being speculated in the media,” the source was quoted to have said.
