The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has submitted his completed nomination forms and running mate for the 2023 general election to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It was gathered that Tinubu submitted the forms and his running mate on Wednesday, following the commission’s directive to political parties to submit the list of their candidates and running mates (presidential and governorship) from June 10 to June 17, 2022.

It was further learnt that the former Lagos State Governor picked a placeholder as running mate to beat INEC deadline.

The latest development was confirmed in a statement issued by the APC presidential candidate’s media aide, Tunde Rahman, on Friday.

Rahman, however, failed to disclose the name of Tinubu’s running mate for the 2023 presidential election.

He stated: “We wish to reiterate that HE Asiwaju Tinubu now stands ready to contest the February 25, 2023, presidential election to deliver progressive good governance to our people.”

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However, a chieftain of the APC, who craved anonymity, disclosed that a leader of the party in Katsina State, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, was the name submitted to INEC.

The development was also confirmed by the Director of Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, saying: “Yes, he is Ibrahim Masari. He once worked as a member of the National Working Committee when Adams Oshimhole was in charge of the APC excos.

“He is not really a surrogate per se. He is just holding forth. The electoral act stipulates that candidates have the window period to substitute up till sometime in August.

“Asiwaju will use that time to continue consulting with the party, governors and the president. He is taking his time and doesn’t want to rush it,” PUNCH quoted Onanuga as saying.

The Star