As the June 17 deadline by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for parties to submit the names of their presidential and vice-presidential candidates approaches, the candidates are under pressure to pick their running mates.
Sources disclosed that the candidates and their parties’ hierarchies are having a tough nut to crack over the issue.
Those said to be under intense pressure include Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential standard-bearer of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC; Alhaji Atiku Abubakr of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; and Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP.
Among the three, Tinubu is said to be pressured the most because of the issue of religion. Being a Muslim from the South, his running mate is expected to come from the North where APC sources said he may pick a Muslim, which will make the party field a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Also, Atiku is having a huge task settling for a Southern running mate from the South-South or South-East. There are also moves to have him field a running mate from the South-West to counter the electoral fortunes of Tinubu in the zone.
Sources close to Obi said the LP standard-bearer may settle for a northern female Muslim as running mate.
“The hard nut before each candidate is picking a running mate that will add value and make the ticket a winning ticket. By Tuesday and Wednesday, they would be making up their minds on their running mates because the INEC deadline is Friday.
Those being considered for the slot in the South-East include Senator Chimaroke Nnamani; former SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha.
Those pushing for the South-East said that “by a twist of events, neither the PDP nor the APC gave the South-East opportunity to produce the president in 2023. Having been excluded from the presidential race so far, the zone has been inadvertently injured politically. The fallback position that will therefore be fair is to take the vice presidential ticket to the South-East Zone.
The South-South Zone also has a claim to the position of vice president in 2023 being the zone that is believed to be the pillar of PDP at least since 2015 when the party lost the centre. Presidential contender Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state is said to be in contention for the number two plum position. South-South is an established home for the PDP. It is given that whatever the case may be, the zone is home to the PDP.
In the South-East zone, former Governor of Enugu state and current Senator representing Enugu East Dr Chimaroke Nnamani is one of the major contenders for Atiku Abubakar’s running mate.
“Senator Nnamani as a governor and Senator has demonstrated a strong will and capacity to deliver. His Ebeano political family in Enugu is the dominant force that determines the leadership recruitment into public offices since 1999.
His Ebeano lecture series has become a global platform that dissects local and international issues and proffers solutions.
His legacy projects are legendary: the Nigeria Law school, Enugu, the permanent site of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), the state Judiciary headquarters, the international conference centre, as well as numerous housing estates. He opened rural and urban roads and elevated human capital development.
Senator Nnamani a trained Medical Doctor in Nigeria and United States has international experiences that would be an added advantage in the quest to save and rescue Nigeria,” a South-East top PDP leader said.
Vanguard
