According to sources within the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the candidate for president of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), rejected a suggestion that he choose either Yahaya Bello, the governor of Kogi state, or Ahmad Lawan, the Senate president.
In order to convince the former governor of Lagos state to pick them as his running mate, Lawan and Bello, who competed in the APC presidential primary with Tinubu earlier this month, have reportedly been lobbying President Muhammadu Buhari and other stakeholders.
Lawan received 152 votes, Yahaya Bello 47, and Tinubu 1,271 votes, giving Tinubu the victory in the primary.
Read Also: Breaking: Nnamdi Kanu loses as court rejects his bail application
Our source, a former minister in the South-Western region of the nation, claimed that although Tinubu has no problems choosing a Muslim as his running mate, he outright rejected both of them because they are both direct rivals with him and have their sights set on winning the presidency.
“Yes, both men (Lawan and Bello) have been putting forth efforts to be nominated as vice-presidential candidates, but I can assure you that Asiwaju is not even considering them. I firmly believe that must have been discussed when he met with President Buhari just before his trip to France because both men had been pleading with the president to convince Asiwaju to take them into consideration.
Read Also: Disregard letter reinstating Okorocha’s ally, Nwafor – Imo APC
“Even those who are Asiwaju Tinubu’s associates are against their choice as both of them are not strong personalities that can bring the necessary votes in the North,” he claimed.
At the celebration for Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who turned 60 last weekend, Tinubu said he is still looking for a running mate. In his nomination form to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tinubu used Ibrahim Masari as a placeholder.
