A DELEGATION of northern leaders, including Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, has been assigned to meet with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, over ‘vital concerns’ regarding his proposed running mate.
It was gathered that APC governors, governorship candidates, and ministers from the states of the North-West met today (Thursday) in Kaduna State.
In a statement issued by APC National Vice-Chairman (North-West), Salihu Lukman, in Abuja, they welcomed the initiative to commence the consultative meeting as vital for strengthening the APC in the North-West as well as improving leadership engagements and cohesion within the zone.
According to him, the governors and political office holders reviewed the state of the party at the national and zonal levels.
They also acknowledged the challenges facing some APC state chapters and resolved to promote efforts at reconciliation as an urgent priority.
He said, “The meeting noted the contribution of the North-West to the emergence and growth of the APC and its electoral viability, with the North-West providing about 39% of the votes the APC recorded in 2019 and 2015 presidential elections.
“Therefore, the zone resolved to aggregate its interests and vital concerns and engage accordingly with the presidential candidate of the party,” he stated.
Recall that the former Lagos State governor had earlier submitted the name of Ibrahim Masari, a former Secretary of the Muhammadu Buhari Support Group (BSG), to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as his running mate. The name of Masari, from the Northwest zone, was submitted as a “place holder” and many political analysts believe he will be replaced soon.
But the outcome of the meeting in Kaduna suggests the APC Northwest leaders are satisfied with Masari being Tinubu’s running mate.
