[BREAKING] INEC Deadline: Tinubu, Atiku Submit Names Of Running Mates (See Names)

• Tinubu and Atiku have submitted names of running mates.

THE NATION REPORTERS reports that as part of the plan to beat the Friday June 17 deadline given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to political parties to submit the names of presidential candidates and their running mates, the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu and presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have submitted names of their running mates.

It was learnt that Tinubu submitted the name of Kabir Ibrahim Masari.

It was, however, gathered that the name of Masari, who hails from the home State of President Muhammadu Buhari, would later be changed after the party stakeholders must have agreed on the suitable vice-presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.

A party source confirmed to DAILY POST that it was true that Tinubu has submitted the name of his running mate, but added that “consultation is still ongoing”

It was further gathered that the move by Tinubu and the ruling party was to meet the statutory requirement and beat the deadline set by the electoral umpire.

However, Tinubu will today meet President Muhammadu Buhari as consultation continues on the issue of his running mate.

A source in the Tinubu’s camp told DAILY POST that all the northern governors want the position.

The source added that if Tinubu has his way, he would have loved to pick the former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima as his running-mate, but he wanted the president and the governors to pick.

The source said: “All northern governors want it. If Asiwaju has his way, it will be Senator Kashim. But he wants the president and governors to pick for him.”

Asked why Tinubu does not want to pick his running mate himself, the source stressed he didn’t want to be a ‘winner takes it all.’

“He does not want to be the winner takes it all. You need to respect the President. PMB did not choose a VP for himself in 2015,” the source said.

One of the leaders of Tinubu Support Group, Hon. James Faleke was at the party secretariat yesterday, but his mission was not known.

But the source confirmed that Faleke was at the party secretariat yesterday to collect INEC’s form for the presidential and vice presidential candidates to be filled.

Asked if Faleke was there to submit the name of the running mate to Tinubu, the source insisted that no compromise had been reached in the issue of running mate.

“When the decision is made, it would be made known to all and the decision would be made tomorrow (today),” he added.

Similarly, Atiku will present his running mate pick to the public this afternoon in Abuja.

Those close to his campaign said the announcement would be made at noon (12 pm) and the nominee will thereafter be screened by a committee already empanelled for that purpose.

This follows the conclusion Wednesday night of a series of meetings between the candidate and the hierarchy of the party on the issue.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, was as of Thursday morning the final choice of Atiku.

“Barring any last-minute change of plans, Mr Okowa would be the nominee to be unveiled this morning,” a reliable campaign insider familiar with the matter told PREMIUM TIMES. “But as you know even a minute is a long time in politics.”

Paul Ibe, a spokesperson for the Atiku Media Office, declined comment on the identity of the vice-presidential nominee, saying PREMIUM TIMES should wait for the official announcement.

“What I can say is that the candidate (Atiku) is anxious to conclude this process of picking a running mate so we can move to the next stage of kicking out the APC from power. His choice will definitely gladden the hearts of all well-meaning Nigerians.”

The party had set up a committee to recommend some candidates to the former vice president.

But despite reports on Tuesday that the committee overwhelmingly recommended Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, his recommendation did not sit well with many leaders of the party.

The leaders felt that Mr Wike is not suitable for a position that places him a heartbeat away from the presidency.

A number of party chieftains raised concerns about the governor’s temperament, his perceived dictatorial tendencies and his propensity for picking fights even with key allies.

Some also argued that Mr Okowa possessed a better intellectual bent and would bring better value to governance at the federal level if the ticket is eventually elected by Nigerians.

Atiku apparently shared their concerns and turned his attention to Mr Okowa who PREMIUM TIMES had reported to have been his initial favourite for the position.

Mr Okowa supported Atiku in the primary where Mr Wike was his closest challenger.

After his public presentation Thursday morning, Mr Okowa will appear before a screening committee of the party.

Political parties have until Friday (tomorrow) to submit lists of their candidates for the 2023 elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).