As Nigerians wait to see who will emerge as the running mate of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the party to pick a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Newsflash Nigeria gathered that Tinubu is to consider either Senator Kashim Shettima or Governor Babagana Zulum as his running mate.
Nearly a month ago that party’s convention took place in Abuja to select the presidential candidate, the vice-presidential candidate remains unconfirmed.
Tinubu had submitted Kabiru Masari’s name as a placeholder to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Recall that INEC explained how political parties can substitute a candidate nominated for the 2023 election.
The INEC’s Information and Voter Education Commissioner, Festus Okoye said that “If the nominated candidate dies; or if the nominated candidate withdraws from the race”.
On Sunday, a source close to party leaders confirmed that former Borno Governor Shettima and Zulum are among the top on the list of favourites, Daily Post reports.
Shettima, the lawmaker representing Borno Central Senatorial District, has been the most vocal Northerner for Tinubu in recent months.
Zulum, who served as his Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, succeeded him in 2015.
“Shettima and Zulum are being highly considered at the moment. Governors (Nasir) El-Rufai and (Abdullahi) Ganduje have been dropped”, the source added.
The Kaduna governor is accused of not doing enough to curtail the recurring killings in Southern Kaduna with critics wondering what he’ll do differently.
According to Daily Post confirmed that some APC chieftains that are Christians, as well as the Christian community, are not favourably disposed to El-Rufai.
For Ganduje, his image is not entirely admirable due to the video of him receiving an alleged bribe, in dollar bills, from contractors.
Jaafar Jaafar, the journalist who published the video fled to Britain with his family. They were granted asylum by the United Kingdom government.
On the other hand, Ganduje has received accolades for ensuring peace in Kano, a largely ethno-religious state.
