JUST IN: Tinubu Picks Former Governor As Running Mate (See Name)

• Tinubu has picked a former governor as running mate. 

THE NATION REPORTERS reports that that the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate for the 2023 polls, Bola Tinubu has confirmed Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate, Vanguard reports.

Meanwhile, News Agency of Nigeria also reported in one of its bulletins on Sunday that the vice presidential candidate will be unveiled to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the leader of the party in his hometown in Daura, Katsina State on Sunday (today).

President Buhari has been in Daura since Friday for the Eid-el Kabir celebration.

Recall that Shettima played a lead role in the pre-presidential primaries campaign of Tinubu.

Shettima, the representative of Borno Central Senatorial District, was a former two-term Governor of Borno State.

A highly-competent source in the Tinubu Campaign Organisation who requested anonymity on Sunday in Abuja said Tinubu would make the name of the candidate public this week.

“The vice-presidential nominee may most likely be a former governor and senator from the Northeast part of Nigeria.

“The person is also by accident of birth a Muslim, confirming what Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State said on Saturday that Tinubu had settled for a Muslim-Muslim ticket,’’ the source said.

The source added that in picking the running mate, Tinubu was not thinking about religion, but about competence, exposure and intellectual depth of the candidate.

“The considerations given for the choice of a running mate were dictated by the need to choose an individual capable of working with the presidential candidate to take Nigeria to greater heights,’’ the source said.

Tinubu is scheduled to pay Sallah homage to President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina, on Sunday to brief him on his chosen running mate.

The former two-term Lagos State governor won APC’s presidential ticket at the party’s June 8 special national convention and presidential primary election.

He earlier chose Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, as placeholder for the vice-presidential slot.

Tinubu was away in France from June 27 on a short vacation during which he held some strategic meetings. He returned to Nigeria on Saturday early enough for Sallah festivities.