The question of who would be the 2027 presidential running mate is not yet ready for debate, according to Ajibola Basiru, national secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He did this while reiterating the party’s resounding choice and support for President Bola Tinubu as the APC’s nominee for president in 2027.
The APC writer claimed that talks over Tinubu’s running partner are still on the table during an interview on Channels Television on Friday.
He went on to say that the party convention, which is typically conducted around a year prior to the general election, would determine Tinubu’s running mate.
“From our perspective, the national summit, which took place in the Presidential Villa, has endorsed Mr. President on the basis of his record, and a wide range of our party’s stakeholders have also overwhelmingly endorsed Mr. President.”
“The question of running mate is not yet onboard and nobody has come to say that the president has made any adverse decision as regards the present vice president.”
The Gombe Episode
Speaking further, Basiru submitted that the chaos that erupted on Sunday, June 15, during an APC Northeast stakeholders meeting in Gombe State, following the endorsement of Tinubu for a second term without any mention of Vice President Kashim Shettima, is a non-issue.
The APC National Secretary said he was physically present at the event, and it is normal for people to have different views at such a gathering.
He added that the issue of a running mate can’t come up until the party’s candidate emerges.
He asserted that the national APC would refrain from interfering in Northeast politics.
“Differing viewpoints are innate in a democratic environment.
“In my opinion, there was no problem. In Gombe State, I was physically present. We held a reception at Government House following the conference.
Some in the Northeast believed that endorsing the president was enough, and that the president would then be able to choose his running partner for 2027.
Others believe that since the summit is taking place in the Northeast, it is also crucial that the vice president, who is from the region, receive the same support.
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