Following the emergence of Bola Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), attention has been turned to who will be his running mate for the 2023 election.
Several party supporters are pushing for him to pick former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara as he is a Christian. To them, a Christian is needed for balance as Tinubu is a Muslim.
A chieftain of the party Ukkasha Rahama said at a news conference on Tuesday, June 14 that Tinubu and Dogara would make a perfect combination for the 2023 poll.
Rahama, who is also the national chairman, Youth Progressives Forum of APC, said “The emergence of Asiwaju as our party candidate has opened another political discussion and to strike the balance, Tinubu and the leadership of the party should consider the choice of Dogara as the vice president.
“This forms the basis of our decision to address this conference to calm the nerves and draw the attention of our great party to ensure justice, fairness and equity to guide their selection of the vice-presidential candidate.
“The subject of our consideration of Dogara as a good material for Tinubu is not ceded along his tribe nor his religion, but his political wealth of experience as one of the outspoken legislature.”
Rahama added, “Though, religion has forced itself into the affairs of Governance in Nigeria instead of credibility, competency and delivery hence the urgent need to take it out of the business of the government.”
On social media, there are also calls for Tinubu-Dogara ticket, @Ayebare25 tweeted on Tuesday, June 14, “Our best chance now is a Tinubu Dogara ticket. Dogara has never lost an election in his constituency.”
However, Daily Trust reports that its sources said Tinubu’s camp is considering a former governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima, a Muslim. There are also calls that Tinubu should pick Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, a Muslim, as running mate.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already given presidential candidates till June 17 to announce running mates.
