A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kabiru Faskari, has confirmed that Kabir Masari is the running mate to Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the party, for the 2023 elections.
The presidential Candidate of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu had submitted an undisclosed name to beat INEC deadline for submission of nominated candidates.
The electoral body had fixed Friday, June 17, as deadline for parties to send in names of their vice presidential candidates
Masari’s name was submitted as placeholder for Tinubu’s running mate as the party stakeholders continue in their consultations.
Masari, a grassroots politician, was the party’s welfare secretary when Adams Oshiomhole, former Edo governor, was national chairman of the party.
Faskari confirmed Masari’s nomination in an interview on Friday.
“Ibrahim Kabiru Masari is our vice-presidential nominee. He was the welfare secretary of the APC under Oshiomhole. He is a well-known politician. His name has been submitted,” the APC chieftain said.
According to him the decision of Masari as Tinubu’s running mate is majorly that of the presidential candidate.
He added that Masari has a very good relationship with Tinubu and would add value to his ticket as someone who is knowledgeable politically in the grassroots.
He said, “There are many considerations in politics: you weigh your chances and work with someone who knows a certain part of the region that you need votes from and someone who adds value to your ticket.
“I think Asiwaju did that and that’s how he came up with Masari. I believe the choice of Masari is informed and Tinubu knows him very well because they have been working together
“He qualifies as veteran in terms of politics because he joined politics from the onset. He began as a member of the PDP.
“He is young. He represents the youths and grounded in politics because he was even a national official of the APC and he is quite close with the presidential candidate.
“He has been with him for a very long time. I believe it is a very informed decision to put out his name.”
