Nigeria's main opposition party, All Progressives Congress, APC, has
resolved to confine its search for a vice presidential candidate for
the 2015 election to the country's South West, a day after electing
former military ruler, Muhammadu Buhari, as its flagbearer for the
polls, those familiar with the matter have told PREMIUM TIMES.
Mr. Buhari, from the North West, defeated four other contenders
Thursday to emerge APC's presidential candidate, set to challenge
President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in
February.
The former military ruler's running mate is expected to come from
southern Nigeria- one among South West, South East, and South South.
But the party has yet to agree on a choice after 24 hours of intense
negotiations and talks between its top leaders.
Party officials told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday that except the APC
decides to reverse its decision, the searchlight has been narrowed to
states in southwest alone.
The reason, they said, is the belief that only the South West
delivered to Mr. Buhari approximately 100 per cent block votes.
Officials believe that while the South East and South South regions
supported Mr. Buhari by voting for him, significant portions of those
votes were also shared with other candidates, including former Vice
President Atiku Abubakar, Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano and Rochas
Okorocha of Imo State.
There was speculation on Friday that the Governor of Rivers state,
Rotimi Amaechi, had been chosen as Mr. Buhari's running mate.
However, one senior official of the party denied the plan.
"The South West gave General 100 per cent of their votes and so it is
only fair that they get to produce the vice president," the source,
who declined to be named because the issue is not yet official, said.
The official also said a "victory" dinner was held at the resident of
one of the national leaders of the party, Bola Tinubu, in Ikoyi after
the election on Thursday and the matter was discussed briefly.
"Another round of meeting was held today, there will be another one
tomorrow here in Lagos, but I believe probably the last meeting will
be held in Abuja on Monday after which whoever is selected will be
made known," he said.
Parties have up to December 18 to submit names of their candidates to
the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The choice of South West to produce the Vice President is also
strategic because Mr. Buhari is expected to get substantial votes from
the northern states and will need to get the votes from the South West
to stand any chance of upstaging incumbent President Jonathan.
Mr. Buhari got 3,430, to beat the other candidates, who also included
publisher, Sam Nda-Isaiah.
Atiku got 954 votes, Kwankwaso: 974, Rochas Okorocha: 624 and Mr. Nda
Isaiah: 10 votes.
Among the major contenders to the vice presidential ticket are Yemi
Osibanjo, a professor of Law, who was the Attorney General and
Commissioner for Justice in Lagos state under Governor Tinubu.
The immediate past governor of Ekiti state, who also chaired the
National Convention Planning Committee of the primary, Kayode Fayemi,
is also under consideration.
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