Buhari meets APC governors over Tinubu’s running mate
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday met with governors belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja. The meeting centered on picking a running mate for its presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
At the meeting were Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff to the President; Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF); Governors Babagana Zulum (Borno), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna); Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, (Jigawa); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Simon Lalong (Plateau); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); and Hope Uzodinma (Imo State).
A report claimed that the APC flagbearer, Tinubu, has penciled down former Borno governor, Kashim Shettima as a his preferred choice for a running mate.
Aside Shettima, other names being speculated as potential running mates are Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika. The two names have been attributed to certain elements in the Congress of Progressive Change, who are nudging President Buhari to pick either of the two ministers.
Another power broker said to have suggested certain names to President Buhari Babagana Kingibe. Kingibe is a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and, in 1993, running mate to late MKO Abiola.
He is said to have suggested Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum (Borno); the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed; and Kashim Ibrahim-Imam for consideration.
