Atiku, Tinubu, Obi, others under pressure over running mate

 

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 close to them told said that yesterday, 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.

so, 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.