Tinubu picked Masari to beat INEC deadline for submission of candidates’ names.
By Emma Ogbuehi
In a bid to beat the deadline by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the submission of names for the 2023 general election, the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has picked and submitted the name of Katsina State born Kabir Ibrahim Masari, a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party as his running mate.
It was however gathered that the selection stands as an interim measure as Masari will be substituted on or before August when the substantive Vice Presidential Candidate of the party emerges from the ongoing rounds of consultations on the matter.
The submission of the name of Masari is to beat the Friday June 17, 2022 deadline stipulated by INEC.
Tinubu, had despite initial hurdles, on Wednesday, June 8, clinched the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 presidential election. 23 aspirants picked forms for the contest, while 22 participated. One of the aspirants, Emeka Nwajiuba, did not participate.
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Tinubu wins APC presidential primaries landslide with 1,271 votes
Tinubu polled a total 1,271 votes to beat former governor of Rivers State and immediate past Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to the second position with 316 votes.
Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo garnered 235 votes to come third.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan, who the National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, earlier announced as the consensus candidate of the party endorsed by President Muhammadu Buhari to the consternation of many, polled 152 votes.
Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, scored 47 votes; former governor of old Abia State and immediate past Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, garnered one vote; Engineer Dave Umahi, governor of Ebonyi State, garnered 38 votes; governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, got 37 votes.
Nwajiuba, immediate past Minister of State for Education, scored one vote. Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, former governor of Jigawa State, polled four votes. Pastor Tunde Bakare, who claimed that God anointed him the 16th president of Nigeria to take over from President Buhari score zero vote.
Bakare was not alone in the zero lane. Former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha; Mr. Tein Jack Rich and Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu, scored zero votes.