Search For Buhari's Running Mate Continues

•Muhamodu Buhari

General Muhammadu Buhari

Jamiu Yisa

•General Muhamodu Buhari
•General Muhamodu Buhari

The search for a running mate for the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, has continued to create suspense days after his election as the party is yet to agree on a choice despite days of intense negotiations and talks between the party’s leaders.

According to party sources, the search for Buhari’s running mate has been narrowed down to two incumbent governors, Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.

Others who were earlier  in the reckoning for the post include Mr. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; ex-Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Lagos State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Yemi Osibajo, and Yemi Cardoso.

Oshiomhole and Amaechi, were being considered for the post because some leaders of the APC feel that South-South should produce the vice-president in order to cut down the votes of President Goodluck Jonathan, who is also from the geo-political zone.

Sources within the party told our correspondent that while a powerful political leader in the APC prefers Oshiomhole, a strong politician and king maker in the Southwest is said to be backing Amaechi for the VP’s job.

A chieftain of the party said  Buhari combined with the bravery and sagacity of Amaechi means Peoples Democratic Party’s days in Aso Rock Villa will surely become history by 2015, adding that it is left to the APC power brokers to settle for this combination if they are serious about ending the embarrassment the PDP has become in the politics of Nigeria.

Another source says Oshiomhole has a far better chance of being picked than Amaechi.

Meanwhile, the South-west leaders of the party met on Sunday night to take a final decision on the nominee.

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Those at the meeting which was held in Ikoyi, Lagos, include the governors of Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Oyo states.

Buhari's running mates

Also at the meeting which was presided over by the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was former interim national chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, Segun Oni, Deputy National Chairman, South; Pius Akinyelure, Vice Chairman, South West; Tajudeen Olawutan Bello, National Financial Secretary; Lai Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary; Dr Muiz Banire, National Legal Adviser among others.

The name of the nominee it was gathered will be presented to Buhari and the national executive of the party as soon as the issue is resolved.

Lai Mohammed, the National Publicity Secretary of the party in a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday, called on Nigerians to pray for the party as it seeks to pick its vice presidential candidate, adding that the choice is not just for APC but for all  Nigerians.

He assured Nigerians 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.

The party said everyone of the candidates who have been speculated as a running mate to Gen. 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 primary 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.

Political parties participating in the 2015 elections have up to December 18 to submit names of their candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

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