Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has conceded the picking of his running mate to Bola Tinubu, national leader of the party, TheCable can report.
This has in effect diminished the chances of Chibuike Amaechi, governor of Rivers state, who was all along tipped to be the vice-presidential candidate.
Further discussions are going to be held this weekend, but a quick decision may not be reached.
The party still has up till December 18 to submit the name of the nominee to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Advertisement
Buhari’s decision to give Tinubu the slot is apparently based on the voting population of the south-west which he is banking on to upstage the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 presidential election.
“Politics is not winner-takes-all. Tinubu worked round the clock to deliver a huge chunk of votes to Buhari in the primary, and it is only fair that he is honoured in return,” an aide to Buhari told TheCable.
Tinubu, TheCable can further report, has not foreclosed the choice of anyone as the VP candidate, but he is opposed to Amaechi – although the Rivers governor has made the biggest financial contribution to Buhari’s campaign.
Advertisement
An APC chieftain from the south-west told TheCable: “Rumours that Amaechi has been chosen as the running mate are not true in any form. The running mate will be announced soon.”
The chieftain further told TheCable: “If the party exco settles for a Muslim/Muslim ticket, Tinubu himself will be the number one choice. If not, then Adams Oshiomhole stands the best chance among the rest.”
He ruled out Babatunde Fashola, governor of Lagos, who is also a Muslim.
TheCable has now installed Oshiomhole, Edo governor, as the odds-on favourite for the running mate slot, slashing his chances from 8/10 to 8/9, while dropping Amaechi’s odds from 9/10 to 5/10.
Advertisement
Here is a line-up of the TOP contenders
ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE
Age: 62
State: Edo
Education: Economics and industrial relations (Ruskin College, Oxford)
Advertisement
Political experience: Governor, Edo (2008 till date)
The case for: Popular former labour leader seen as a champion of the masses under President Olusegun Obasanjo; Nationwide name recognition; Articulate and cerebral; Considered to be a performing governor; south-south minority who has cross-zonal appeal; Could be compromise candidate between Tinubu and Amaechi camps.
Advertisement
The case against: Not strong enough to garner south-south majority votes.
TheCable odds: 8/9 to be picked as running mate
Advertisement
CHIBUIKE AMAECHI
Age: 49
Advertisement
State: Rivers
Education: BA English studies and literature (University of Port Harcourt)
Political experience: Speaker, Rivers house of assembly (1999-2007); governor, Rivers (2007 till date)
The case for: Could be spoiler to Jonathan in Rivers, which has 2.4 million votes and has traditionally been an electoral pot of gold for PDP; Has invested heavily in Buhari’s campaign and is on good terms with the APC presidential candidate; Loved in many parts of the north for his open opposition to Jonathan; Has a good record of achievements in Rivers.
The case against: Not likely to woo south-south and south-east where Jonathan is expected to hold sway as “home favourite”; South-west voters may not be too enthusiastic at the polls with no Yoruba on the ticket; Considered to be too combustible to be a loyal and calm deputy to a strong-willed person like Buhari.
TheCable odds: 6/10 to be picked as running mate
YEMI OSIBAJO
Age: 55
State: Lagos
Education: Bachelor of law (University of Lagos); master’s degree (London School of Economics)
Political experience: Lagos attorney-general and commissioner for justice (1999-2007)
For: Intellectual, professor of law and senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN); highly respected as man of integrity; pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God and could assuage “fundamentalist” suspicion of Buhari; a legal brain behind the Tinubu government in 1999-2007.
Against: Lack of electoral experience; name recognition highly constrained; Naming a pastor not an automatic guarantee of Christian votes.
TheCable odds: 6/10 to be picked as running mate
KAYODE FAYEMI
Age: 49
State: Ekiti
Education: Degrees in history, politics and international relations from the Universities of Lagos and Ife in Nigeria; PhD in war studies (King’s College, University of London).
Political experience: Ekiti governor (2010-2014)
For: Former governor who has national name-recognition; a Christian from the south-west to counter fundamentalism feelings about Buhari; good performer as governor; intellectual; calm and mature politician.
Against: Having lost Ekiti election, electoral value in question; not in the good books of Tinubu, who calls the shots in the south-west.
TheCable odds: 5/50 to be picked as running mate
Honourable mention
Olawale Edun, 49, former Lagos commissioner for finance (1999-2004), B.Sc (Economics), University of London; M.Sc (Economics), University of Sussex. TheCable odds: 1/250
33 comments
I pray GMB never make the mistake. The best running mate with the present ethno-religious political confusion staged by People Deceiving People (PDP) is the Prof Osinbajo. It will naturally make christians feel secured and belief in his fight against corruption in his govt. Moreso, Prof Osinbajo is known to an Assistant General Overseer of RCCG. This will moreso make the yorubas belief our interest is protected. However, we need not politician like tinubu or oshiomole right now to silent Gej. Please heed this simple advice as it will profit GMB political success. . Even Gej and his People Deceiving People knows this salient fact.
APC should consider a candidate like Rochas to diffuse some of the South eastern votes while people like Ameachi work for GMB in the south south…yea the Jagaban has invested he can have slots in government…
Amaechi would have been a good choice for veep if he were not a loose cannon.Oshiomole too,though good,wouldn’ t dent GEJ’s chances in the south-south.The more I look at Fayemi, the better I like him even though I don’t know why the cable has rated him 5/10. You must not forget that they South-West is not totally locked down with Ondo & Ekiti being potential swing states for the PDP on account of their present tenuous control. As Fayemi hails from those parts, particularly as a lot of people from Ekiti will feel they treated him poorly in the gubernatorial elections that brought in Fayose, a veep slot for him on APC’s ticket would galvanize a lot of support & would lock down the SW for the APC.
The prof will be a better deal. It will give block vote from SW and christian. With what GMB will get from the North, it would have been a given.
APC best bet is Dr. Fayemi. His performance as the Chairman of this just concluded National convention for Presidential primary election is a plus for him. It shows clearly that is a man of high integrity. W West people will vote for APC massively. APC should not make mistake of Muslim/muslim ticket. The country is already divided on religious and tribal line. APC should not waste the chance of sweeping PDP away this time.
The South-West will not care if a non Yoruba get the VP position, we need an electoral Asset that can deliver the South East and the South South. Rotimi Amaechi has 4million votes in SouthSouth. He is a Lagos man and has some level of integrity to work with GMB
Tinubu is a party leader & a master strategist that can outsmart Mr. Fix it in a free and fair environment. For APC to remain focus and be a wining party, the running mate to GMB must come from almost the same state with the Oga on top and this is not unconnected with political and strategic reasons.
Chubuike Amaechi is your best choice
APC SHINE YOUR EYES!!!
your headline is very misleading. tinubu shldnt think of choosing himself. I think Osibanjo is a good choice. He is an accomplished administrator who revamped Lagos state judiciary during his tenure as AG, he is from the south west, a christian in a church that has the most branches in Nigeria and the world and has utmost intergrity. I would vote that combination and campaign for them sef
Who says Tinubu himself should not come out as the VP. Its a life time chance and am sure the Tinubu i know will not let it go.Given the news that Buhari is not too healthy.Who knows he might become another Goodluck .Baba please dont miss this chance jare.
If it is down to Tinubu, my bet would be on Osibajo.
While it looks good to drop names as possible candidate, it is better to consider a person with sound economic background to run with Buhari. While Buhari will instill discipline in all facet of our lives he will not be able to devote adequate time to economy and if this does not tally with his disciplinary posture the populace will be fed up with him. My suggestion is Fasola.
I pity GMB and his APC because there is no road in ASO ROCK for them, GMB has nothing to offer Nigerians, all we need is a vibrant and educated president, and if GMB like let him go and pick bishop oyedepo, or pastor Adeboyo, he will not win 2015 presidential election, history must repeat itself….let him come back 2019.
And i pity and laugh those blind Nigerians whom dont no the difference between military regime and civilian regime (democracy) GMB the injection the gave him as a military man is still disturbing him till date, and we dont want that type of person as a president and i laughed when he said he will stop corruption in Nigeria, he thought that we are still under military rule where you lock people anyhow you like as he did when he was head of state, we are in democracy now where we have rule of law. let him go and come back 2019…..
NO VACANCY IN ASO ROCK
The south west sacrifised poltical appoint under this dispensation for the unity of this country the result is what we are withinessing.now
My position remains that at a time like this, we need balanced thinking. For anyone to think that a Muslim/Muslim ticket is good for APC would be a joke of the millennium. Timubu, as I have heard and learnt, has already turned Lagos State into a jihadist state; and to think that Christians in Nigeria would make the mistake if using their hands to vote Muslims fundamentalists into power, would be another political miscalculation. For this, APC has already lost one vote (my vote) and I can assure you that many more will make this decision soon after. I don’t like PDP, but I think with a balanced christian/Muslim ticket, both christians and Muslims feel secured. GNB, pls think well, this is your last chance. Do not throw it away. A word is enough.
Sam Nda-Isaiah is the best candidate for vp
It really baffles me how Nigerians truly think GMB will deliver this country with the hawks surrounding him. Before our very eyes, we watch tyrants like Tinubu stake a claim to the VP position as his sole right to produce. This clearly shows that we will not be free from Tinubu meddling attitude in the affairs of state. It’s a known fact that Tinubu is corrupt. How would GMB truly fight corruption when the evil he wants to fight is right on his bed there. Have you all forgotten in a hurry how Tinubu plotted to remove Fashola in 2011until Lagosian threatened. Do not be deceived, GMB isn’t the messiah he claims to be. Reasons are 1. Boko Haram named him as their Leader in the botched peace talk with FG until his image makers advised him to pull out due to perceived damage it would have done to him reputation. 2. Why frolic with the likes of Tinubu, Obj, Atiku, and all these corrupt Ex Govs. What moral grounds would he have to probe these men of questionable character. 3. I am yet to hear discussions around the main issues facing us as a nation and strategies on tackling such challenges. Let us remember this…GMB isn’t very tolerant as a person. This vital quality of leadership is of utmost importance to our country’s unity. Let’s be mindful of our actions especially at this point in our nations political process
The APC certainly have not the interest of this country. Buhari has always led by proxies in all his former offices. Idiagbon may have been ok, but that leadership character cannot work today. In Buhari, the APC lost the election before it took place.
Shior! With Buhari, APC was always going to win the presidency, especially with PDP fielding a Jonathan as its candidate.
those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad. Suddenly Tinubu is now Gmb godfather . Why cant Buhari be allowed to pick who he wants to work with. So Buhari is not as independent minded as we think,. Buhari is Tinubus puppet. In all this.,the biggest loser is Amaechi
Hm. Honestly,this is not subject for discussion at all bcos the country is moving forward. The military era is over and GMB should just hide in shame after his reign of terror. As far as true Nigerians are concerned,there is no vacancy in Aso Rock. I can understand if some people have money to throw around but there be any, please please please a mental case like Amaechi should never be considered
GMB and Tinubu is a No No as we will believe Tinubu will take charge and in as much as I am not opposed to a Muslim Muslim ticket, majority of the voters are and we can’t change that now…PDP will ride on i, the plan had been great till now! In my opinion a Faeymi or The Prof will bring it home easier.
Every true Nigerian knows that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock but if other contestants are springing up,then it is just to showcase our multi party system but please let us be reasonable. Nigeria is moving forward. The era of military dictatorship is over. Am not against any candidate but please this issue of choosing a lunatic is ridiculous. Amaechi should forget politics for now and attend to his psychiatric problems first before he runs out from office naked or even get into a physical fight with whoever chooses him as deputy.
i strongly believed in OKOROCHA, APC needs the strong support of eastern part of Nigeria to win this election.
Buhari who? Sadly the 2015 Nigerian presidential election is over before the vote is cast. APC cannot help but to disappoint us. This is not the kind of opposition we need in Nigeria at the moment. If APC think it would take us back to dictatorships, then they are All People Clowns. We are yet to recover from decades of mediocre and autocratic dictatorships of which Buhari is a personification. Nigerians will not accept a return to dictatorships. Buhari’s candidacy is dead on arrival. Let APC reorganize for 2019 when they MUST give us a credible flagbearer. This 2015 election is effectively over.
GMB should not fall our hand oh. Tinubu would surely cost him a lot. APC should run a poll asap to see the backlash of this news ! All social networks are abuzz already. Osinbajo or Adams would do. Ppplllsss oooohhhh
I’m a Christian but I see GMB with better xter of a Christian than the well known Christians. I’m not so concerned about VP anyway. The man for ASO ROCK job with the present state of things in Nigeria is GMB.
I’m a Christian but I see GMB with the xter of a Christian than the well known Christians. I’m not so bothered about who becomes the VP.GMB can have my vote.
well if u ask me I’ll say all the aspirants for a vp slot r accountable, but we need a more credible Christian with a Big past to go in for vp. Oshomhole has a Big past n he’s credible enough to pair as a vp. Tinubu shud step down n let go godfathering. he shud give democracy a role to play.
Tinubu is definitely a wrong option for GMB. Okorocha or Prof Osibajo would be better for APC against 2015 election.
Osinbajo will be a better Option. He has impeccable character and as a South South person, I will vote for him and GMB. GEJ has failed us. Come and look at the poverty in the south south. Look at the level of impunity in the Country. It is a shame. I have read so much to check the qualities of the likely candidate for VP. The more I read about the Professor, the more I think someone like him would be good for the Country.
Amechi sorry ooo.Used and dumped,we told you
Tinubu is as good as becoming d president. he shld let go d vp slot 4now & pull his political experiences in d sw 2support apc candidates. a muslim/christian ticket is in right direction preferably s/east vp. ds will help in distabilizing pdp’s strong hold in d@ region. sw are knwn 4their peaceful ways & sacrifices 4d unity of ds country. politics is a game of calculation, sw cld await their time while throwing their weight behind d apc candidature.
If any one of you on this forum is close to Jagaban go and tell him that i said if he is serious about bringing about change to Nigeria and not just that he is just all about getting “power”. He should pick Akinwunmi Adeshina the Honorable Minister of Agriculture as the VP for Buhari. I will not say more than that for now.