Ahead of June 17 deadline given to all political parties to submit names of presidential candidates and their running mates, sources close to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday hinted CAPITAL POST that the party may field a Muslim running mate with Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a Muslim from the South.
A last minute discussion is being held secretly to consider the Vice Presidency while the party is also weighing so many options.
The source said names of those to be considered includes:
1. Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, from Yobe State [Muslim]
2. Governors Simon Lalong of Plateau State [Christian]
3. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State [Muslim]
4. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State [Muslim]
5. Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State [Muslim]
6. Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation from Adamawa State [Christian]
7. Ms Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, from Gombe State [Muslim]
8. Senator Kashim Shettima, former governor of Borno State [Muslim]
9. Kashim Ibrahim Imam, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), also from Borno State [Muslim]
Surprisingly, governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai was not mentioned among the likely running mate to Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
Out of nine names touted, two are Christian while seven are Muslim. Moreso, some APC stalwarts are of the opinion that religion should not matter while they cited that the late Bashorun Abiola and Babagana Kingibe won their election in 1993.
