BY Sodiq Yusuff
Adams Oshiomhole, governor of Edo state, is now in strong contention for the vice-presidential slot of the All Progressives Congress (APC), TheCable has been informed.
TheCable had earlier reported that he was not interested in the race, but after a series of consultations and discussions, he is now being drafted into the fray by some south-west leaders of the party.
Muhammadu Buhari, former head of state, was elected at the party’s convention in Lagos on Wednesday and Thursday, but his running mate was not named.
When it became clear that Buhari was going to win the ticket while the votes were still being counted, leaders of the party met and tried to sort out the issue, but no agreement was reached.
They returned to the convention ground in time for the announcement of the winner.
A final decision is expected to be reached at the weekend by the leaders.
While Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers state, is considered as the top contender for the VP slot, Bola Tinubu, APC national leader, maintains that the south-west has to produce the candidate.
On the one hand, Amaechi has played a key role in the candidature of Buhari and is positioned as a counter force to President Goodluck Jonathan in the south-south, with the south-west expected to settle for senate presidency if APC wins.
On the other hand, the south-west boasts of the second highest voting population after the north-west and a candidate from the zone is naturally expected to complement Buhari’s votes in the north, with the south-south settling for senate presidency.
TheCable was informed that Tinubu is not well disposed to Amaechi being on the ticket, but may throw his weight behind Oshiomhole, also from the south-south, if the south-west does not get the slot.
Age: 49
State: Rivers
Education: BA English studies and literature (University of Port Harcourt)
Political experience: Speaker, Rivers house of assembly (1999-2007); governor, Rivers (2007 till date)
The case for: Could be spoiler to Jonathan in Rivers, which has 2.4 million votes and has traditionally been an electoral pot of gold for PDP; Has invested heavily in Buhari’s campaign and is on good terms with the APC presidential candidate; Loved in many parts of the north for his open opposition to Jonathan; Has a good record of achievements in Rivers.
The case against: Not likely to woo south-south and south-east where Jonathan is expected to hold sway as “home favourite”; South-west voters may not be too enthusiastic at the polls with no Yoruba on the ticket; Considered to be too combustible to be a loyal and calm deputy to a strong-willed person like Buhari.
TheCable odds: 9/10 to be picked as running mate
Age: 62
State: Edo
Education: Economics and industrial relations (Ruskin College, Oxford)
Political experience: Governor, Edo (2008 till date)
The case for: Popular former labour leader seen as a champion of the masses under President Olusegun Obasanjo; Nationwide name recognition; Articulate and cerebral; Considered to be a performing governor; south-south minority who has cross-zonal appeal; Could be compromise candidate between Tinubu and Amaechi camps.
The case against: Not strong enough to garner south-south majority votes.
TheCable odds: 8/10 to be picked as running mate
Age: 55
State: Lagos
Education: Bachelor of law (University of Lagos); master’s degree (London School of Economics)
Political experience: Lagos attorney-general and commissioner for justice (1999-2007)
For: Intellectual, professor of law and senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN); highly respected as man of integrity; pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God and could assuage “fundamentalist” suspicion of Buhari; a legal brain behind the Tinubu government in 1999-2007.
Against: Lack of electoral experience; name recognition highly constrained; Naming a pastor not an automatic guarantee of Christian votes.
TheCable odds: 6/10 to be picked as running mate
Age: 49
State: Ekiti
Education: Degrees in history, politics and international relations from the Universities of Lagos and Ife in Nigeria; PhD in war studies (King’s College, University of London).
Political experience: Ekiti governor (2010-2014)
For: Former governor who has national name-recognition; a Christian from the south-west to counter fundamentalism feelings about Buhari; good performer as governor; intellectual; calm and mature politician.
Against: Having lost Ekiti election, electoral value in question; not in the good books of Tinubu, who calls the shots in the south-west.
TheCable odds: 5/10 to be picked as running mate
Olawale Edun, 49, former Lagos commissioner for finance (1999-2004), B.Sc (Economics), University of London; M.Sc (Economics), University of Sussex. TheCable odds: 1/100
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