Two Factors Tinubu Support Group Considers Before Endorsing El-Rufai As Tinubu’s Running Mate

The Tinubu Support Group has endorsed, Nasir el-Rufai, the Kaduna State governor as the right running mate for the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Tinubu had initially disclosed that he is still searching for his running mate despite submitting the name of Massari to the Independent National Electoral Commission as a ‘placeholder’.

Before now, there has been speculations on the possibility of the National Leader of the APC picking his running mate from Borno state. Unverified information had it that either the former governor of the State, Kashim Shettima or his successor, Babangana Zulum will be suitable for the job.

However, in a press conference organised by Tinubu Support Group on Monday, the Director General of the Group, Aminu Suleiman disclosed that after a meeting between the group and stakeholders within the party, the group arrived at the choice of Governor Nasir El-Rufai as the appropriate candidate for the job.

The group identified two factors considered before arriving at the decision.

The first factor is the voting bloc from the North West. According to Suleiman, the largest vote during the presidential election always come from the North West. 

Anyone who plans to win presidential election in Nigeria should not joke with Kaduna. If APC really means business with 2023 election, the choice of El Rufai as Tinubu’s running mate is non-negotiable.

The second factor considered by the group is the experience of the governor either at federal or state level.

It could be recalled that El-Rufai was a Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. He was later elected as Governor of Kaduna state in 2015 and got re-elected for second term in 2019.

The governor who is already rounding off his second term in office is expected to deploy his wealth of experience to garvanize votes and support for Tinubu in 2023. He will therefore be at a better advantage for that if he emerges as his running mate.

These were the two factors considered by Tinubu Support Group before endorsing him as vice presidential candidate. 

They called on the party’s leaders to look into the factors considered and approve the endorsement.