Tinubu, Atiku, Peter Obi and other presidential candidates are under pressure 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.
However, sources disclosed to newsmen, that the candidates and their parties’ hierarchies had a tough nut to crack over the issue yesterday.
Thus, those revealed to be under intense pressure include Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate 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.
In addition, Tinubu is said to be most pressured, this is due to the problem of religion. Being a Muslim from the South, his running mate is expected to emerge 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. After picking the candidates the parties have to process many documents and upload them on the INEC website,” a top politician told Vanguard.
