From Fred Itua, Aidoghie Paulinus, Fred Ezeh, Abuja and Gyang Bere, Jos
As the deadline for the submission of substantive running mates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) expires, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu appear to be sticking to their choice of Kashim Shettima as Vice Presidential candidate, in spite of pleas and agitations from Christian leaders and leaders of his party for them to rescind the decision.
This is even as Christian leaders, especially the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Catholic Bishops Conference, have renewed their hostility against APC’s same-faith ticket.
Tinubu, a Yoruba Muslim from the South West, following his emergence as the candidate of the APC, had been under pressure to pick a Northern Christian as his running mate.
There were pressures from Christian leaders and moderate Muslims from the North on the former Lagos State governor to respect the country’s religious sensitivity and diversity in picking a running mate.
Despite the pressure, however, Tinubu settled for a former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, who is also a Muslim. The choice has not gone down well with many Nigerians, notably Northern Christians, who threatened to work against Tinubu if he didn’t rescind his decision.
