The Presidency has revealed that President Buhari would only name his running mate for the 2019 general election after he might have emerged as the candidate for the All Progressive Congress, APC.
Mr. Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity said this at an interview with one of Punch’s correspondents.
Mr. Garba said this in response to questions on whether or not Buhari would choose Osibanjo as his running mate and why he did not make his position on the matter known while he was declaring his interest at the party’s NEC meeting on Monday.
He explained that only candidates in an election can choose their running mates and President Muhammadu Buhari had yet to be a candidate but still an aspirant.
He recalled that Buhari nominated Osibanjo as his running mate for the 2015 Presidential election at the point when he wanted to file his nomination with the INEC.
He further added that “there is a way these things are done. When was the vice-president nominated for the ticket? If you recall it was in December 2014 after Buhari won the primary. It was done at the point of filing nomination form.”
According to him, Vice President Osibanjo’s name was put on the nomination form 24hours to the closure.
Furthermore, he said, “I am not an expert in this matter but my sense is that candidates nominate their running mates. President Buhari is not a candidate yet, he has just signified his intentions to seek party nomination.”
It is after winning the ticket that you would expect him to name his running mate for the contest. That’s the requirement, he can’t run alone.”
“Though I have not been briefed on this, this is my assumption. My view is that it is not the norm that you name a running mate when you are not a candidate.”
Nigerians continue to watch and listen with keen interest as events leading to the next general elections unfold. Questions yet unanswered and truly this time, “only time will tell”.

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Buhari To Name Running Mate After He Emerges As Candidate – Presidency