Bishop Kukah, El-Rufai Make List of 8 Contenders for Tinubu’s Running Mate (list)

There are strong indications that the ruling All Progressives Congress has put in place, astrong machinery in place retain power in 2023 by producing a strong running mate for it’s 2023 presidential flag bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Reports say that 8 names have been shortlisted but northern political interest and the fear of a Muslim-Muslim ticket is currently leaving APC leaders in a dilemma.

The 8 names allegedly picked so far are: Governors Babagana Zulum (Borno), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) and Samuel Lalong (Plateau); former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima (who led Tinubu campaign organisation); former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

Interestingly, a top critic of the APC and Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah has emerged among those been considered.

Daily Tribune quotes a source as saying, “The only drawback for Kashim Shettima is that he is not Hausa/Fulani and that it will be the first time Hausa/ Fulani will not be represented in government. The same holds for Dogara, Boss, Lalong.

“Another source claimed that there is a strong push for Bishop Hassan Matthew Kukah who retires later this year to balance the ticket, in spite of his occasional acerbic views on the APC federal administration.”

A credible source noted that leaders of the northern region are bent on securing the interest of the region in the next general election in the country.

Those proposing the possibility of a Muslim-Muslim ticket are of the opinion that that is the only way of stopping northerners from voting against Bola Tinubu.

Speaking further, the source said that “the APC is likely to fly a Muslim/Muslim ticket because some influential members of the northern establishment have insisted that they do not want a Christian vice president in the North.

“There’s no Christian who can match Kashim Shettima in the entire North. Dogara can’t win more than Tafawa Balewa Local Governnent Area in Bauchi State. The SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, is neither Hausa nor Fulani and can’t win in multi-ethnic Adamawa State.

“Lalong is neither Hausa nor Fulani stock, so the majority Hausa Fulani may not accept him. Let’s look at the turn of events, something tells me it will be a Muslim/ Muslim ticket.”

Lalong is seen by some influential members of the northern establishment as part of the ethnic minorities who are spread across such states as Plateau, Benue, Kogi and Niger.