The spokesman of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, has cleared the air on the selection of Katsina State politician, Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, as the running mate to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the 2023 general election, IgbereTV reports
Tinubu had submitted the name of Masari as his running mate to beat the Friday deadline by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for all political parties to submit names of their candidates for elective positions
The former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the APC had surprised Nigerians by choosing Masari which many see as an unknown quantity when he officially returned his completed nomination forms to the INEC.
But in a statement on Saturday clarifying the situation, Onanuga said Masari was just a placeholder whose nomination was a stop gap to give Tinubu and the party ample opportunity to shop for a running mate who would then replace the former National Welfare Officer of the party.
“Ibrahim Masari is not really a surrogate per se like people are insinuating. He is just holding forth. The electoral act stipulates that candidates have the window period to substitute up till sometime in August, so that will give Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC ample time to scout for a suitable and accepted running mate,” Onanuga said
