How Buhari’s running mate will emerge - APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the choice of its presidential running mate will be made within the context of the best democratic ideals, just like that of its presidential candidate.

This represents a somewhat shift from media reports, which had said the presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), had surrendered the choice of his running mate to Senator Bola Tinubu, one of the national leaders of the party.

It was learnt that pressure was mounted on Tinubu to drop his interest following wide-spread concern against the fielding of a Muslim-Muslim ticket, especially considering the mood of the nation.

Buhari was said to have asked Tinubu to recommend anybody including himself for the number two job. Having accepted to drop his interest, Tinubu was therefore given the chance to nominate a candidate for the position of vice president. 

It is expected that the leadership of APC, which has scheduled its National Working Committee meeting for today will use the opportunity to unveil the chosen running mate.

However, the party in a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, urged Nigerians to ignore what it described as widespread and misleading reports in the traditional and social media about the choice of the APC presidential running mate, saying the party has yet to even meet, not to talk of picking a running mate.

It described the reports that a running mate has been picked to run with the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as unnecessarily sensational, downright speculative and totally misleading.

''We are using this opportunity to tell Nigerians to pray for us as we seek to pick a running mate for our presidential candidate. This is because this choice is not just for us but for all of Nigeria,'' APC said.

The party said everyone of the candidates who have been speculated as a running mate to Buhari is unquestionably competent to be a Vice-President or even President, adding, however, that no choice has yet been made by the party.

''We are glad with the feedback we have received from Nigerians on the transparent and rancour-free manner in which our presidential primaries was organised. We are assuring Nigerians that the choice of our presidential running mate will also be guided by best democratic ideals.

''We appreciate the nationwide interest that the choice of our presidential candidate and his running mate has generated. It is a mark of the confidence that Nigerians repose in us. We assure that we will not disappoint our compatriots who have seen our party as the agent of the change they so much crave,'' it said.

Credit: ThisDay