APC Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari chooses Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as running mate

After days of marathon meetings and horse-trading, the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress [APC], Muhammadu Buhari, has settled for a former Attorney General of Lagos, Yemi Osinbajo, as his running mate.

Mr. Yemi Osinbajo, 55, is a senior advocate of Nigeria, and University of Lagos professor of commercial law who helped rebuild the Lagos State judiciary as a national reference point as a two-term attorney-general of the state. Mr. Osinbajo is also connected to the powerful Awolowo political dynasty by marriage. He is married to the Late Chief Awolowo’s grand daughter.
Osinbajo, a top cleric in the powerful Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, and the Chairman of the governing board of the Redeemer’s University, was thought to be a powerful choice to match the Jonathan ticket that has being playing to a christian constituency through serial pilgrimages, and the subtle elevation of the status of the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria to a virtual presidential adviser’s status.

The ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and many of its campaign slogans have sought to milk the deficit implicit in a possible Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Party leaders, offering insight on the vice presidential pick, said “Yes, it has been agreed that Osinbajo should be the one, it was finally agreed last night. There is going to be a press conference to present him today.

Credit: Festus Owete/PremiumTimes