The running mate of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2015 election, retired General Muhammadu Buhari, will be made known latest by Tuesday morning, a source close to the process has told The Eagle Online.
It was learnt that the running mate could be unveiled anytime from Monday as series of meetings have been held over who should be chosen.
This was also as The Eagle Online was told that there are three individuals and group that will determine who eventually emerges as the vice presidential candidate.
Top on the list of those taking the decision is a national leader of the APC and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It was learnt that several top members of the party are of the opinion that since Tinubu has opted not to run for any elective position but to see to the successful nurturing of the party into a formidable opposition, he should be given the privilege of having “a major say” in who emerges as the vice president.
“This came into play immediately Buhari emerged on Thursday as the presidential candidate as all top members of the party gathered in Tinubu’s home in Ikoyi (Lagos State) to deliberate on the issue,” a source told The Eagle Online.
His input was said to have been “very crucial” to most of those present at the meeting as they deferred to him on the issue.
Buhari, though said to seem neutral “but waiting for the party”, is also said to have a critical role to play in the choice of who becomes his deputy.
Buhari, sources within the party said, has told the party’s hierarchy that he is leaving the decision to them.
However, a highly place source told The Eagle Online: “The leadership of the party has also been watching his body language because you cannot just foist anybody on him since they are going to be running the government together.”
The governors who belong to the party are also said to be a major factor in who emerges as the party’s candidate.
It was learnt that this was why most of those who have made the shortlist of probables are from the circle of the governors.
On that list are Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.
Also on the list are a former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; and a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Prof. Yemi Osibajo (SAN).
Two major factors are said to have worked against Fashola.
These are religion and his frosty relationship with Tinubu.
Fashola is a Muslim, just like Buhari, and the party is said to be running away from a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
A source told The Eagle Online: “You cannot take it away from Fashola that he has done very well as a governor.
“But in today’s Nigeria, a Muslim-Muslim ticket will not fly.
“Moreover, Tinubu and Fashola, no matter the picture being painted, are far still far from reconciled.”
Tinubu and Fashola are said to have fallen out over the choice of the governorship candidate for the APC in Lagos State.
Amaechi was also said to have featured “very highly” on the shortlist.
However, factors including wide acceptability and likelihood of the his geopolitical zone, the South South, not backing a Buhari-Amaechi ticket when President Goodluck Jonathan, who is also from the zone and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, is running, are said to weigh heavily against him.
“But there is no doubt that he has performed creditably as a governor and remains a major force that fused the alliance that is called the APC together,” a source said.
Oshiomhole is said not to be keen about the vice president’s slot and as such has not been seriously considered.
For Fayemi, his chances are said to be high for three major reasons.
One was the successful conduct of the National Convention of the party, over which he superintended.
He was said to have carried along everyone, especially the presidential candidates, “a factor that led to the huge success that the convention was”.
Fayemi is also from the South West from where the APC believes it could rein in votes dangling the vice presidential ticket.
A source said: “No doubt, the South West will run with the party knowing that it will have a voice at that level in the central government unlike the present arrangement where the zone does not feature in the first five of the government.”
The achievements of Fayemi as the governor of Ekiti State is also said to rank him high for consideration.
Osibajo is regarded a “bright” and a possible “compromise candidate” in the setup.
Another source told The Eagle Online: “Whichever way it will go, the party will, latest by Tuesday, make public the vice presidential candidate.
“There is the agreement that campaign must commence immediately.
“The PDP, whether they agree or not, has been campaigning, albeit subtly, and the APC needs to catch up on time.
“So we need to hit the ground running.”
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