All Progressive Congress governors in the north are divided over the choice of running mate for the party’s presidential flagbearer, Bola Tinubu.
Controversy has since trailed Tinubu’s candidacy following his comment that he lost his academic certificates in his submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
A party chieftain, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told newsmen that the delay in settling for an acceptable candidate among the governors spurred the party to temporarily opt for a placeholder.
The APC had submitted the name of a party chieftain in Katsina State, Ibrahim Masari, to INEC as its surrogate running mate.
Masari is a serving board member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Plateau State.
The source, according to The PUNCH, said weeks after Masari’s name was submitted to the INEC, the APC had yet to settle for a candidate.
He attributed the challenge to internal wrangling and agitation between governors from the North-East and North-West.
“I think it is down to two governors, Babagana Zulum of Borno and Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, who have been seriously agitating for the vice-presidential slots. While the former wants his predecessor to be considered for the exalted, the latter has his eye on the seat,” he said.
The APC Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, however, kicked against the report, which he averred must be the figment of the imagination of people peddling the speculation.
“I can’t respond to speculation. All I can say is the media should allow the APC presidential candidate to make his decision. Once a decision is taken, we will announce it,” he fumed.
The Spokesman for the Bola Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, also toed his line when he disclosed that his principal was still consulting with the party and the northern governors.
When asked about any probable northern candidates being touted as Tinubu’s running mate, Onanuga disclosed that he could not speak on it.
“I am telling you the truth. I don’t have any information on it at the moment,” he said.
