A lawyer, Ladipo Johnson, has been named as the running mate to the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
An official of the party, who didn’t want to be named, confirmed the development on Saturday, according to TheCable.
According to the party official, Johnson is “standing in” as the party’s vice-presidential candidate and his name has been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission in order to meet up with the June 17 deadline for submission of candidates’ names for the 2023 elections.
“Barrister Ladipo Johnson is standing in as our vice-presidential candidate and his name has been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission,” the official said.
Premium Politics had reported that the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, named Kabiru Masari as his running mate; Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, picked Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; whilst Labour Party’s presidential candidate settled for a former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe, as his running mate.
Meanwhile, earlier on Saturday, the NNPP had confirmed that talks were ongoing on the coalition.
“We wish to inform Nigerians that our discussions with Peter Obi and the Labour Party are still ongoing. Special committee was set to discuss arrangements. We hope for good results that will give Nigeria a chance to be alive, once again,” the party had said.
Kwankwaso had said he would have opted for Obi as his running mate had the latter joined NNPP after his defection from the PDP.