Running mate: Tinubu to pick between Zulum, Shettima, denies meeting with Wike

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the governing All Progressives Congress for the 2023 election, may choose either Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State or his predecessor, Senator Kashim Shettima, as his running mate in the coming days.

With about 12 days until the deadline for political parties to submit the final names of their presidential candidates and running mates to the Independent National Electoral Commission on July 15, it was learned that Tinubu had agreed on the two names after extensive deliberation.

Tinubu, who is presently in France and is anticipated to return shortly to complete the running mate problem before the deadline, was said to have narrowed his search to Borno, Kano, and Kaduna states, with all probable running mates being Muslims.

North-West APC governors had stepped up efforts to guarantee the area delivered the running mate. It was reported on Friday that the zone’s governors, governorship candidates, ministers, and other stakeholders underlined their determination to advance their case during a meeting in Kaduna on Thursday, utilizing their vote power as a negotiating weapon.

However, when Tinubu comes to the country, he will just need to conduct final discussions to pick between Zulum and Shettima, according to the ally.

According to a Tinubu supporter, the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, was also considered but was finally dismissed, despite playing active roles in Tinubu’s emergence as the party’s candidate.

However, when Tinubu comes to the country, he will just need to conduct final discussions to pick between Zulum and Shettima, according to the ally. Zulum is widely seen as having widespread support in the North, owing to his track record of performance, particularly in the face of the Boko Haram insurgency, while Shettima, a Tinubu friend, also spoke out in favor of his candidacy following Tinubu’s outburst in Abeokuta (Ogun State).

The source said, “The race for the running mate for Asiwaju has been reduced to just two men. They are the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, and his predecessor, Kashim Shettima, who is the senator representing Borno Central Senatorial District. All things being equal, the running mate should emerge between these two men.

He stated, “Yes, it is true that the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, was also being considered. He played an active role in Tinubu’s emergence. His support was one of the surprises among the many people that worked for him. If he (El-Rufai) is picked, he deserves it.

“Don’t forget that he is also an influential governor among his colleagues, but I think it is beyond that.”

The source also revealed that “Tinubu is returning to face this issue of a running mate once and for all and he is likely going to see to its end before Sallah, which is July 10.”

Another source, a member of the now-defunct Bola Tinubu for President Campaign and a member of the House of Representatives, suggested that the candidate would settle for a governorship.

He said, “The position is likely going to a serving governor either from the North-East or the North-West. But I think North-East is being favored because the zone has yet to produce a President and we need to share the votes from the zone with Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who is from the zone and he is also the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“If we pick Zulum, the noise about a Muslim-Muslim ticket would reduce. I think the Christian community would accept him. He is hard-working and might be considered on merit by the people. Christians won’t mind supporting him. His name would resonate all over.”

Asked if the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, was not being considered, the source answered in the negative. “No, he is not being considered again. He wants it, but he is no longer in the equation,” he added.