Atiku Reveals How He Stopped Tinubu From Becoming His Running Mate

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has revealed how he rejected an attempt by the then Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to become his running mate, saying he opposed a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in the interest of Nigeria.

The Wazirin Adamawa disclosed this in a Hausa-language video interview shared on X.

The former Vice-President said the development occurred after he had secured the presidential ticket and Tinubu allegedly expressed interest in becoming his running mate.

According to Atiku, Tinubu sent five elders, including former All Progressives Congress chieftains Tom Ikimi and Bisi Akande, to discuss the matter with him.

Atiku said he told the emissaries that he could not accept a Muslim as his running mate because of the religious composition of the country.

He said, “He said he would back me to secure the ticket. After I got the ticket, he sent five elders among them Tom Ikimi, Bisi Akande and three others. They told me that Tinubu wanted to be my running mate.

“I told them that, as Christians, they should understand that it was inappropriate for me to pick a Muslim as my running mate.”

Atiku said he questioned the elders over why they could not communicate his position to Tinubu directly.

He maintained that choosing a Muslim running mate would not have been in the best interest of the country.

He said, “I asked them why they could not tell him that. I told them that I could not accept a Muslim-Muslim ticket, because it would not be of the best interest of our country.”

According to Atiku, Tinubu subsequently parted ways with him politically and supported the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

He said the two men did not find themselves in the same political camp again until 2014, when the political process that eventually produced Muhammadu Buhari as the APC presidential c

Atiku also narrated how he met with the late former military Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, after the APC convention.

He said he had returned to Abuja when Buhari visited him at his residence and told him that he had won the party’s primary election but needed Atiku’s support to win the subsequent election.

According to Atiku, Buhari’s request came at a time when he had learnt that Tinubu wanted to be Buhari’s running mate.

The former Vice-President said he agreed to support Buhari but attached a condition to his support.

He said, “I gave him one condition because I learnt that Tinubu wanted Buhari to pick him as his running mate. I assured him I will support on the condition that he will not do Muslim-Muslim ticket.”

Atiku said Buhari thought about the condition for about five minutes before assuring him that he would not choose a Muslim as his running mate.

Atiku said that shortly after Buhari left his residence, Tinubu sent emissaries to ask the former military ruler about the agreement they had reached concerning the running mate position.

According to Atiku, Tinubu became upset after learning that Buhari had agreed not to pick him.

He said, “Tinubu was so upset, saying that Buhari had not kept his promise, and so on. He was eventually calmed down.”

Atiku further disclosed that Tinubu later suggested that Buhari could pick his wife as his running mate because she was a Christian.

However, he said Buhari rejected the suggestion because he did not want to work with a female running mate.

According to Atiku, religious leaders later became involved in the disagreement over Buhari’s running mate.

He said the dispute was eventually resolved after Tinubu agreed to nominate Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who was then his Attorney-General and a Christian, as Buhari’s running mate.

Atiku said Buhari accepted Osinbajo’s nomination, paving the way for the APC’s 2015 presidential campaign.

Buhari subsequently contested the 2015 presidential election with Osinbajo as his running mate and defeated the then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

Atiku’s account comes amid renewed national debate over the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, particularly following the decision by the APC to field Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, both Muslims, in the 2023 presidential election.