APC running mate slot ‘finally’ narrowed to Tinubu, Osibajo, Oshiomhole
After a long meeting in Lagos on Sunday night by south-west leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the choice of running mate to Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election has been narrowed down to Bola Tinubu, national leader of the party, and Yemi Osibajo, a professor of law and former attorney general of Lagos state.
However, if the south-west ─ which is expected to fill the slot ─ decides to cede it to the south-south, Adams Oshiomhole, governor of Edo state, will get the nod, TheCable has learnt from top party sources.
A source at the meeting told TheCable that further consultations need to be made because “we are yet to reach a definite conclusion… meetings have been ongoing since Friday and will continue in Abuja today”.
The source further said several criteria were discussed in trying to arrive at a suitable candidate: electoral pedigree, political experience, support base and name recognition.
However, it was also decided that the criteria could be waived to pick a “neutral candidate” who can then be fully supported by the machinery of APC in the south-western states.
He did not give details of all the candidates considered, but said Tinubu came first in the “suitable experience” category while Osibajo was the clear option in the “neutral” group.
But Oshiomhole would be considered if the south-west is unable to reach a consensus on the matter.
The Edo governor is seen as highly sellable because of his mass following through his labour constituency as well as his national appeal and intellectual capacity.
He speaks Hausa and Yoruba fluently, which could be of great value during the campaign.
Tinubu’s candidacy is likely to reawaken the issue of Muslim-Muslim ticket, but Osibajo and Oshiomhole are Christians.
Osibajo is a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, thought to be the second largest denomination in Nigeria after the Catholic church ─ but he is not considered a political heavyweight.
“Tinubu has demonstrated to everybody that he is not a bigot. His wife is a Christian and some of his children even go to church. More so, he championed the nomination of a Christian as the next governor of Lagos, working for the success of Akinwunmi Ambode in the APC primary despite opposition from fellow Muslims. With Tinubu, religious bigotry can never be an issue,” the source said.
Buhari told TheCable in an interview in October: “Nigerians will always uncover impossible room for manoeuvre for politicians. I had to face one of the governors during one of our party’s meetings [over the issue of religion]. “In 2003, I chose Chuba Okadigbo as my running mate. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an Igbo. In 2007, I picked Edwin Ume-Ezeoke. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an Igbo. And in 2010, I chose even a pastor. Pastor Tunde Bakare.
“Honestly, what do Nigerians want me to do? If they don’t believe I’m not a fundamentalist, what else can I do?”
Chibuike Amaechi, the governor of Rivers state, is also interested in the slot and has been a heavy financier of the Buhari bid, but his chances are not considered bright anymore.
It is still unclear when the vice-presidential candidate will be named, but the party has up till December 18 to submit the name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Someone is either telling a bad joke or flying a kite that will not work.
If Atiku knew better and enough to subsume his ambition to the party, I doubt BAT would be that “silly” to rock the boat.
Is this story planted by a PDP mole?
Tinubu should be out of it, I advice he continues playing his role as the stronghold of the party. But since the party has narrowed it choice to the 3 persons, I suggest Oshiomole for political advantages.
Buhari and Tinubu will do better job, at least serving into d hand of opponent is part of d game…APC lol.
It is now crystal clear that Tinubu is playing on Nigerians intelligence thereby taking us for a ride.Should APC present Buhari/Tinubu then Jonathans visit to Jerusalem is not in vain.
Any mistake of pairing Buhari with Tinubu for the 2015 Presidential race will be APC’s political suicide
Tinubu is d cancer that will Buhari’s potential to win the next election
Tinubu as vice presidential candidate will be a tactical error; his position is too strategic as kingmaker to go for an elective position at this moment. And it is unimportant that the v.p ‘must’ be a south westerner. Let the party consolidate on its gains so far and not allow primordial sentiments thwart its efforts. Good luck APC!
Oshomole is right and suitable candidate. God bless Nigeria. IJN.