Buhari meets APC governors over Tinubu’s running mate

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met with state governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

Although details of the meeting which was held behind closed doors were not made public it was believed to have been called to discuss the matter of a running mate to the party’s flag bearer, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.

The APC governors were led by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, for the meeting which, according to inside sources, was holding high level consultations on the choice and suitable running mate to Tinubu for the 2023 presidential election.

Those in attendance at the meeting included the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, Governors Babagana Zulum of Borno, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa and the Chairman of the Nothern Governors’ Forum, Simon Lalong of Plateau, as well as Yahaya Bello of Kogi and Hope Uzodinma of Imo, respectively.

The contending issue of a running mate has threatened to tear the party apart in recent times with many kicking against a Muslim-Muslim ticket after Tinubu had allegedly pencilled down the name of former Borno State Governor, Senator Kashim Shettima, as his running mate.

Read also:Buhari’s administration worse than military govt – Melaye

However, some party leaders, especially those from the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), are said to be opposed to the choice of Shettima and are reported to be pushing for the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, or the Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, who is Buhari’s nephew, for the position.

Those who are opposed to a Muslim-Muslim ticket are also said to be pushing for Lalong or Mustapha to have a balance of a Muslim-Christian ticket which they believe will balance out whatever the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will present.

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