I rejected Tinubu as running mate over Muslim-Muslim ticket — Atiku reveals in explosive interview

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that he rejected Bola Tinubu’s request to become his running mate during the 2007 presidential election cycle, citing opposition to a Muslim-Muslim ticket, while also claiming he later conditioned his support for former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2014 on the same grounds — effectively blocking Tinubu again.

“I told them that I could not accept a Muslim-Muslim ticket, because it would not be of the best interest of our country,” Atiku said in a Hausa-language video interview shared on X, according to Daily Trust.

Atiku added that after Buhari accepted his condition, Tinubu was “so upset” — eventually being persuaded to nominate Yemi Osinbajo, his Attorney-General and a Christian, as Buhari’s running mate instead.