2023: Tinubu submits Masari’s name as running mate to beat INEC deadline

Presidential aspirant and the APC flagbearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has presented the name of Kabir Ibrahim Masari as his running mate for the 2023 election.

With the INEC deadline already upon them, the APC has submitted the Katsina born politician as a “place holder” until the party has come to a resolution on who will be the perfect fit as vice presidential candidate.

This move by Tinubu and the APC is meant to evade the June 17 deadline which was set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for all parties to submit their running mates.

The APC flagbearer would be meeting president Buhari today, June 16, as talks on his running mate continue.

A source speaking with ThisDay said:

“The name of the running mate submitted would be changed for another northern politician in the next few weeks. The one submitted is just holding the ticket in trust for another candidate to be picked by Tinubu and the party in the next few weeks.

The candidate is still widely consulting, because the issues around the choice of running mate are many and he is yet to address them all. So, he is still asking for more time to look into it all – whether he is running a Muslim-Muslim or a Muslim-Christian ticket.

He personally thinks there’s a need for more consultation and that’s what he is doing. The debate on the choice of deputy has assumed a level that is currently greater than the party and the candidate, hence the need for comprehensive consultation, which is what he is doing.”